On the Field
Jamal Lewis (born August 26, 1979) is an American football player who currently plays running back for the Baltimore Ravens. He attended the University of Tennessee and wears #31. Lewis was the #5 pick overall in the 2000 NFL draft, and in his rookie season, rushed for over 1,000 yards, supplanting Priest Holmes as the team's starting RB. The Ravens running game and punishing defense earned them their first World Championship when they defeated the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis scored a touchdown in the game.
In 2003, Lewis nearly set a new NFL single-season rushing record by rushing for 2,066 yards, leading the league. He finished second all-time, to Eric Dickerson, and joined Dickerson, Barry Sanders, and O.J. Simpson and the only backs in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. During that season, Lewis also broke the single game rushing record by running for 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns. Lewis was rewarded by being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.
Off the Field
Prior to the 2004 season, Lewis was charged with attempting distributing cocaine. The charges stemmed from a federal sting initiated prior to Lewis being drafted by the Ravens. Since Lewis violated the NFL drug policy, commissioner Paul Tagliabue suspended Lewis for two games in the 2004 season. Lewis later plea-bargained to reduced charges and on January 26, 2005 Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison, two months in a halfway house, and 500 hours of community service.
Lewis is a native of Atlanta and lives there in the off-season.
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