Michael Lewis (wide receiver)

Michael Lewis (wide receiver)
Michael Lewis
New Orleans Saints
Team ambassador
Personal information
Date of birth: November 14, 1971 (1971-11-14) (age 40)
Place of birth: New Orleans, Louisiana
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Weight: 173 lb (78 kg)
Career information
College: No College
Debuted in 2000 for the New Jersey Red Dogs
Career history
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
**Signed on with team a week before folding
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NFL.com

Michael Kendall Lewis (born November 14, 1971 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently the team ambassador of the New Orleans Saints.[1] He was signed by the Louisiana Bayou Beast in 1998. He did not play college football.

Lewis has also been a member of the New Orleans Thunder, New Jersey Red Dogs, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.

Contents

Early years

Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie.

Professional career

Early career

In 2000, he was a former Budweiser beer truck driver (thus, the nickname "Beer Man") who never went to college, and waded through the various semi-professional football leagues, pro indoor leagues, and the Arena Football League.

Philadelphia Eagles

Finally, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason in 2000. He was cut before the regular season began.

New Orleans Saints

Michael returned to his hometown to deliver beer locally. But, at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season the New Orleans Saints gave him a chance by signing him. Then the Saints sent him over to play for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2001.[2][3]

Lewis was the feature return specialist for the Saints from 2002 until September 19, 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, where he injured his MCL and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season.[4] He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.[5]

In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt).[6] He is currently the Saints' all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482).

On December 21, 2003, he also played a role in the River City Relay as one of the receivers that would lateral a touchdown in a last second attempt to win the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (in which the Saints lost). The River City Relay won an ESPY, NFL play of the year, and an ESPN.com internet poll.[7]

On June 15, 2007 the Saints released him. The local New Orleans newspaper, the Times-Picayune, titled the news, "There's a Tear in My Beer" because he was a local inspiration, going from beer truck driver to NFL star.[8]

San Francisco 49ers

On September 25, 2007, Lewis was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to take over punt return duties. The incumbent punt returner, Brandon Williams, was released.[9]

New Orleans VooDoo

Lewis signed a contract with the New Orleans VooDoo on October 10, 2008. Team officials were preparing to make the announcement the following week, but the owner (Tom Benson, also the owner of the New Orleans Saints) decided to terminate operations on October 13, 2008.[10]

Lewis subsequently took a position as a "Team Ambassador" for the Saints.[11] Although no longer playing, Lewis was awarded a Super Bowl ring after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in recognition of his continuing role with the team.[1]

Awards and honors

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Michael Jackson (wide receiver) — For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). Michael Jackson Position(s) Wide Receiver Jersey #(s) 81 Born April 12, 1969 (1969 04 12) (age 42) Tangipahoa, Louisiana …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Lewis (disambiguation) — Michael Lewis may refer to: Michael Lewis (author) (born 1960), American non fiction author and financial journalist Michael Lewis (bishop) (born 1953), Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf Michael Lewis (cyclist), Belizean… …   Wikipedia

  • Mike Wilson (wide receiver) — Mike Wilson Date of birth: December 19, 1958(1958 12 19) Place of birth: Los Angeles, California 1976 graduate of Carson High School in Carson, CA. Selected to …   Wikipedia

  • Chris Henry (wide receiver) — For other people of the same name, see Chris Henry (disambiguation). Chris Henry Henry playing for the Cincinnati Bengals No. 15      Wide receiver …   Wikipedia

  • Derrick Alexander (wide receiver) — This article is about the wide receiver. For the defensive lineman, see Derrick Alexander (defensive end). Derrick Alexander Position(s) Wide Receiver Jersey #(s) 82, 85 Born November 6, 1971 (1971 11 06) (age 40) …   Wikipedia

  • David Terrell (wide receiver) — David Terrell No.       Free agent Wide receiver Personal information Date of birth: March 13, 1979 (1979 03 13) (age 32) Place …   Wikipedia

  • Mike Barber (wide receiver) — Mike Barber Date of birth June 19, 1967 (1967 06 19) (age 44) Place of birth Winfield, West Virginia Position(s) Wide receiver College Marshall NFL Draft …   Wikipedia

  • Marcus Smith (wide receiver) — This article is about the wide receiver. For other people with the same name, see Marcus Smith. Marcus Smith No.       Free Agent Wide receiver Personal information Date of birth: January 11, 1985 ( …   Wikipedia

  • Mike Thomas (wide receiver) — Mike Thomas No. 80     Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Personal information Date of birth: June 4, 1987 (1987 06 04) (age 24) P …   Wikipedia

  • Mike Williams (wide receiver, born 1984) — For other people of the same name, see Mike Williams. Mike Williams Williams in the 2011 preseason. No. 17     Seattle Seahawks Wide receiver …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”