Kevin Lewis (football player)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lewis is a former professional American football
linebacker
in the National Football League
who played for the New York Giants
. He played college football
at Duke
.
. After being inactive for the first games of 2000
, Lewis was waived to make room for placekicker
Jaret Holmes
. He was re-signed when Ralph Brown
was placed on injured reserve
. Overall, he played in seven games without recording a stat. He was released as a final cut on September 3, 2001. The Giants re-signed Lewis to the practice squad a day later. On November 4, he was signed to the active roster. Despite spending the first half of the year on the practice squad, Lewis played in nine games recording 12 tackles. After making the team out of training camp, Lewis recovered a fumble
d snap against the Arizona Cardinals
on September 30, 2002. Due to multiple injuries suffered by Giants players, Lewis got more playing time than was expected for him. Against the Washington Redskins
on November 17, after Lewis tackled running back
Ladell Betts
he fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Giants player Marcellus Rivers
. Lewis along with fellow linebacker, Nick Greisen
got his first career start at linebacker against the Redskins on December 8. In the game, Lewis recorded six tackles and his first career sack
. For the season, Lewis registered 12 tackles and a sack. Lewis followed up his 2002 performance by playing in all 16 games in 2003 and recording 16 tackles. When Mike Barrow was injured in game one of the 2004 season
, Lewis was named the starter over Nick Greisen. On October 31 against the Minnesota Vikings
recovered a fumble by Mewelde Moore
for 16 yards. At the end of the year, Lewis ended up leading the Giants with 91 tackles. He was released as a final cut on September 3, 2005. Lewis sat out every game in 2005 without being signed, but after Antonio Pierce
and Chase Blackburn
became injured, Lewis re-signed before the first playoff game against the Carolina Panthers
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who played for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Duke
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
.
New York Giants
Lewis originally signed with the Giants on April 24, 2000 as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2000 NFL Draft2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. After being inactive for the first games of 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
, Lewis was waived to make room for placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Jaret Holmes
Jaret Holmes
Jaret D. Holmes is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears , the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars . He played high school football at Clinton High School. Holmes played college football at Hinds Community College and Auburn...
. He was re-signed when Ralph Brown
Ralph Brown (American football)
Ralph Davis Brown II is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He has played with the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals....
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. Overall, he played in seven games without recording a stat. He was released as a final cut on September 3, 2001. The Giants re-signed Lewis to the practice squad a day later. On November 4, he was signed to the active roster. Despite spending the first half of the year on the practice squad, Lewis played in nine games recording 12 tackles. After making the team out of training camp, Lewis recovered a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d snap against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 30, 2002. Due to multiple injuries suffered by Giants players, Lewis got more playing time than was expected for him. Against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on November 17, after Lewis tackled running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Ladell Betts
Ladell Betts
Matthew Ladell Betts is an American football running back who is currently a free agent He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
he fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Giants player Marcellus Rivers
Marcellus Rivers
Marcellus Rivers is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Oklahoma State....
. Lewis along with fellow linebacker, Nick Greisen
Nick Greisen
Nick A. Greisen is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....
got his first career start at linebacker against the Redskins on December 8. In the game, Lewis recorded six tackles and his first career sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. For the season, Lewis registered 12 tackles and a sack. Lewis followed up his 2002 performance by playing in all 16 games in 2003 and recording 16 tackles. When Mike Barrow was injured in game one of the 2004 season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, Lewis was named the starter over Nick Greisen. On October 31 against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
recovered a fumble by Mewelde Moore
Mewelde Moore
Mewelde Jaem Cadere Moore is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
for 16 yards. At the end of the year, Lewis ended up leading the Giants with 91 tackles. He was released as a final cut on September 3, 2005. Lewis sat out every game in 2005 without being signed, but after Antonio Pierce
Antonio Pierce
Antonio Durran Pierce is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Arizona....
and Chase Blackburn
Chase Blackburn
Chase Blackburn is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football for Akron....
became injured, Lewis re-signed before the first playoff game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.