Michael Lewis (NFL safety)
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| Michael Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 29, 1980 (age 26) |
| Place of birth |  Houston, Texas |
| Position(s) | Strong safety |
| College | Colorado |
| NFL Draft | 2002 / Round 2/ Pick 58 |
| Pro Bowls | 2004 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2002-06 2007-present |
Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers |
Michael Milton Lewis (born April 8, 1980 in Richmond, Texas) is a strong safety for the San Francisco 49ers. He was signed by the 49ers on March 2, 2007. Lewis was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Colorado by the Philadelphia Eagles. He led the Eagles in tackles (129) in 2005 and was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2004, as he and teammate Brian Dawkins were the starting safeties for the NFC.
[edit] College career
A strong safety since his freshman year, he twice won the school's Dave Jones Award for the most outstanding defensive player and the Hale Irwin Award for the most outstanding DB in his junior and senior seasons. He closed his career ranked 9th on the school's all-time list with 336 tackles (2nd-best among DBs), 2nd in forced fumbles (10) and tied for 12th with 9 pass interceptions. His 6.5 career sacks are a Colorado record for DBs. As a senior, he was a unanimous All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice, earned third team All-America honors, and was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the nation's top DB. He led the squad with 112 tackles and 5 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. As a junior, he made a career-high 117 tackles on his way to first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors[1].
[edit] 2006 Eagles Campaign
The 2006 season has been particularly difficult on the field for Lewis. In the highly anticipated Week 5 clash with the Dallas Cowboys, Lewis was beaten on a 4th and long pass play in the final minute of the game by WR Terry Glenn and was forced to commit a 57-yard pass interference penalty. Although the Cowboys failed to convert what would have been the game-tying touchdown, the miscue put in doubt what should have been a settled victory.
The following week against the New Orleans Saints, Lewis was beaten badly on a double move by Saints WR Joe Horn with the Eagles ahead 24–17. Horn was subsequently wide open for the equalizing touchdown, and the Eagles went on to lose the game. Lewis was benched in favor of second-year safety Sean Considine after the incident, and the team announced the following week that Lewis and Considine would share the strong safety duties. Considine, in fact, started the subsequent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been reduced to a role playing position in which he plays a "hybrid linebacker" and is used in nickel and dime situations. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2006 season, it has been speculated that this will be the former starting Pro Bowler's last year in Philadelphia. Demand for Lewis' services may be below average due to other free agents, a deep 2007 draft and his inability to pick up defensive schemes quickly.
- In Week 14 against the Redskins, Lewis had his best game of the season. His 84 yard interception return for a touchdown helped the Eagles defeat the Redskins 21-19 and keep their playoff hopes alive. Lewis also made several key tackles in the second half to prevent a Redskins comeback.
[edit] Off the field
During the week of Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida Lewis won the annual EA Sports Madden Bowl competition. The tournament featured eight NFL players and Lewis claimed the top spot by defeating Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, Colts DE Dwight Freeney (the two-time defending champion), and Bills RB Willis McGahee.
He and his wife, Amaris, a track star at Colorado, reside in Sicklerville, New Jersey and Richmond, TX, with daughter, Morgan Naomi[2].
| Preceded by Blaine Bishop |
Philadelphia Eagles Starting Strong Safeties 2003—2006 |
Succeeded by Sean Considine |
