Michael Lewis (wide receiver)

Michael Lee Lewis (born November 14, 1971) 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.

For other people with the same name, see Michael Lewis (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Michael Lewis (safety).
Michael Lewis
Lewis in 2007 with the 49ers
New Orleans Saints
Position:Team ambassador
Personal information
Born: (1971-11-14) November 14, 1971
New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:173 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school:Metairie (LA) Grace King
Undrafted:1993
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As executive:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:28
Receiving yards:553
Receiving touchdowns:1
Return yards:7,807
Return touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Lewis was also a member of the New Orleans Thunder,[2] New Jersey Red Dogs, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans VooDoo.

Early years

Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana in 1990.[3]

Professional career

Early career

Prior to his pro football career, Lewis was a Budweiser beer truck driver (thus, the nickname "Beer Man") whose truck route was a short distance from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Lewis never went to college, in part because he became a father at a young age. Lewis waded through the various semi-professional football leagues, pro indoor leagues, and the Arena Football League, amassing impressive stats that resulted in him getting invites to various NFL training camps.[4]

Philadelphia Eagles

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

New Orleans Saints

Lewis returned to his hometown to deliver beer locally. However, the New Orleans Saints signed Lewis at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season. The Saints sent Lewis to play for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2001.[5][6]

Lewis was the Saints' feature return specialist from 2002 until September 19, 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, when he injured his MCL and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season.[7] Lewis returned to play for the Saints on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.[8]

In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt).[9] 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.[10]

In April 2006 Lewis returned to the Saints after recovering from a knee injury.[11]

The Saints released Lewis on June 15, 2007.[12] The local New Orleans newspaper, the Times-Picayune, titled the news, "There's a Tear in My Beer".[13]

San Francisco 49ers

On September 25, 2007, the San Francisco 49ers signed Lewis to take over punt return duties. The incumbent punt returner, Brandon Williams, was released.[14]

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.[15]

Post-retirement

Lewis subsequently took a position as a "Team Ambassador" for the Saints.[16] Though no longer an active player, Lewis was awarded a Super Bowl ring after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in recognition of his continuing role with the team.[1] Lewis was selected for the Saints Hall of Fame in 2015.[17]

NFL career statistics

Receiving Stats

YearTeamGPRecYdsAvgLngTDFDFumLost
2002NO 16820025.0590411
2003NO 131222618.83911000
2004NO 14812715.9300700
Total432855319.85912111

[18]

Returning Stats

YearTeamGPPRYdsTDFCLngKRYdsTDFCLng
2001NO 814810032327620068
2002NO 16446251683701,8072097
2003NO 133027501027451,0680053
2004NO 143438201153511,2151096
2005NO 24800581370020
2006NO 101611101026379140051
2007SF 134433604515860024
Total761861,818141832485,9893097

[18]

Awards and honors

References
  1. Krysten Oliphant "Michael Lewis reveling in new job with Saints" Archived July 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Monroe News-Star, July 9, 2010.
  2. Dominitz, Nathan (May 9, 1999). "Admirals run past Thunder". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 44. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Michael Lewis". San Francisco 49ers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008.
  4. KTO (July 10, 2017), Meet The NFL's Most IMPROBABLE Journey to the League, retrieved August 5, 2017
  5. CNNSI.com - 2001 NFL Preview - Hey, beer man! Lewis the toast of Saints' camp - Wednesday August 15, 2001 07:26 PM
  7. NewOrleansProFootball.com
  8. ESPN - 'Beer Man' Lewis on tap for Saints-Ravens game - NFL
  9. NFL Players
  10. New Orleans Saints - 404 Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. NewOrleansProFootball.com
  12. NewOrleansProFootball.com
  13. ESPN - KR Lewis, DE Whitehead cut by Saints - NFL
  14. Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News
  15. NOLA.com - VooDoo terminates operations
  16. Elicia Broussard, "Michael Lewis is Still Delivering", NewOrleansSaints.com, April 24, 2009 (retrieved May 11, 2009).
  17. Joel A. Erickson, "Michael Lewis, Tyrone Hughes announced as next inductees to Saints Hall of Fame", The Advocate, May 19, 2015.
  18. "Michael L. Lewis Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
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