Michael L. Lewis
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| San Francisco 49ers — No. 84 | |
| Wide receiver/Punt returner | |
| Date of birth: November 14, 1971 | |
| Place of birth: New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | Weight: 173 lb (78 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
|---|---|
| 2001 for the New Orleans Saints | |
| Career history | |
| College: No College | |
Teams:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Michael Lee Lewis (born November 14, 1971 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football wide receiver and punt returner.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie.
[edit] Professional 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.
Finally, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason in 2000. He was cut before the regular season began. Michael returned back 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[1][2]
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[3]. He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens[4].
He is currently the Saints' all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482). He also set an NFL record in 2002 for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt)[5].
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[6].
On June 15, 2007 the Saints released him. The local New Orleans newspaper, the Times-Picayune, titled the grim news, "There's a Tear in My Beer" because he was a local inspiration, going from beer truck driver to NFL star[7].
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[8].
[edit] Team history
- Kenner (LA) City Chiefs (semi-pro)
- 1998 (PIFL) Louisiana Bayou Beast
- 1999 (RFL) New Orleans Thunder
- 1999 (IPFL) Louisiana Bayou Beast
- 2000 (AFL) New Jersey Red Dogs (only played first 12 weeks of season - picked up by Eagles)
- 2000 (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles (training camp only)
- 2000-2006 (NFL) New Orleans Saints
- 2001 (NFLE) Rhein Fire
- 2007 (NFL) San Francisco 49ers
[edit] Awards and honors
- 2004 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 16)
- 2002 NFL Pro Bowl
- Associated Press First Team All-Pro
- 2002 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 6)
- NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year
- Sports Illustrated All-Pro
- College & Pro Football Newsweekly First Team All-Pro
- Pro Football Weekly All-NFL and All-NFC
- Football Digest First Team All-Pro
- The Sporting News All-Pro
- 2000 AFL All-Rookie Team
- 1998 PIFL All-Star 1st Team
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ CNNSI.com - 2001 NFL Preview - Hey, beer man! Lewis the toast of Saints' camp - Wednesday August 15, 2001 07:26 PM
- ^ [1]
- ^ NewOrleansProFootball.com
- ^ ESPN - 'Beer Man' Lewis on tap for Saints-Ravens game - NFL
- ^ NFL Players
- ^ New Orleans Saints - 404
- ^ ESPN - KR Lewis, DE Whitehead cut by Saints - NFL
- ^ Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News
[edit] External links
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