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Marcedes Lewis News & Rumors

Jack Del Rio tires of talking about tight end Marcedes Lewis
November 15
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said after Sunday's win over the Colts that he no longer wanted to answer questions about Marcedes Lewis' disappointing play this year. Del Rio said he had talked to Lewis and decided to refer questions to the tight end. He repeated that stance at the start of his news conference Monday. "I know you have to ask those questions. We've talked about that subject quite a bit. Until we do something as a football team, we're going to hear that, and I understand that, but I don't have anything I can tell you sitting here today that's going to help you feel better about it. I think you're going to need to see it," he said."
Jaguars' Marcedes Lewis looking to make an impact on offense
October 20
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"If the Jaguars are to get their passing game on track, they know where they have to start. They need to get the ball to tight end Marcedes Lewis. He made the Pro Bowl last year for the first time, catching 58 passes. He signed a five-year $34 million contract after the lockout with $17 million guaranteed. In his prime at age 27, Lewis had established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league and was poised to become a regular at the Pro Bowl. "I don't want to miss that again," Lewis said in August."
Tight end Marcedes Lewis still smiling despite slow start to season
September 30
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Tight end Marcedes Lewis has four catches so far this season and has missed a game because of injury. Still, Lewis is walking around the locker room with a smile on his face. "In my heart, I hate to lose more than I love to win," Lewis said. "For me being a leader, they can't see me with my head down and I don't have a smile on my face. I feel it's my job to always be upbeat because it could be a lot worse. We have good chemistry here with good coaches who care about the players. That keeps us going. As for having only four catches, he said, "You know what kind of heart I've got. I'm not selfish. They come in bunches. I could have seven catches Sunday with two touchdowns. I'm very patient."
Marcedes Lewis, Jason Hill out against Jets
September 18
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Both players listed as doubtful for today's game against the Jets won't play. Tight end Marcedes Lewis and receiver Jason Hill are out. Lewis suffered a calf strain in the Jaguars season opener against the Tennessee Titans and Hill suffered an injury to his hip flexor in the same game."
Jags won't ride Marcedes against Jets
September 18
NFL.com
 
"The Jaguars' road to their second win will be a little more difficult on Sunday when they face the Jets without tight end Marcedes Lewis. That according to Fox Sports Insider, NFL Network Contributor Jay Glazer, who reported early Sunday that Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio is playing it safe with Lewis, who is dealing with a strained calf."
Tight end Marcedes Lewis to test sore right calf on Friday
September 15
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis will test a strain in his right calf by running on it for the first time Friday. Until then, the Pro Bowl selection will rest the injury and undergo treatment. "I know when I'm at my best, I give our team a better shot of winning," Lewis said. "That's why it's annoying. It's frustrating." Lewis, who did not practice Wednesday, suffered the injury during the season opener. He thought he had a leg cramp and told coach Jack Del Rio that. Del Rio sent Lewis into the locker room to get an IV treatment, after which it didn't feel better. "I thought this is not a cramp," Lewis said. "… If it was a cramp, the whole muscle would've contracted. It was only"
Jaguars Notebook: Players select six team captains
September 6
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars players selected six team captains on Monday, two from each phase of the game. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis are the offensive captains, defensive end Aaron Kampman and linebacker Daryl Smith are the defensive captains and fullback Montell Owens and receiver Kassim Osgood are the special teams captains. Owens, Jones-Drew, quarterback David Garrard, defensive end Reggie Hayward and cornerback Rashean Mathis were captains in 2009. The Jaguars did not select team captains last season. Smith was also selected captain in 2008. Britton's back After missing every preseason game following a back procedure to repair a herniated disc, Jaguars right"
Marcedes Lewis: Jaguars investment is well-spent
August 6
Jacksonville Times-Union
 columnist Tania Ganguli
"Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis lost some sleep the past few nights, worrying about when his contract would be finished. He told his agent, Bus Cook, not to even call him until it was done. Last night at practice, Lewis got the good news and this morning he signed a five-year deal worth $34 million with $17 million guaranteed. Lewis' contract has incentive clauses that can increase its total value to $38 million. "I feel blessed," Lewis said. "I'm going to make sure they understand their investment is well spent." The deal does not make Lewis the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. But that was never what Lewis was after. "I think ultimately you want to be in a position where you're happy,"
Jags TE Lewis given five-year deal worth up to $38M
August 5
NFL.com
 
"Veteran TE Marcedes Lewis received a five-year deal from the Jaguars worth $34 million in base salary and $38 million with incentives, according to a league source. The deal includes $17 million guaranteed and is similar to Seahawks TE Zach Miller's recent contract, though with the ability to earn more via incentives."
Marcedes Lewis rejoins Jaguars on limited basis
August 2
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Marcedes Lewis mostly watched, occasionally running a half-speed route in his red Nike street shoes, in his first practice back from a short holdout. The Jaguars tight end joined his teammates early Monday morning, five days after training camp officially started. Lewis' agent and the Jaguars' front office are still negotiating his long-term deal. "I just had a few business things on my side to take care of back at home," Lewis said of his absence. "…Obviously Gene Smith is doing a great job with getting great guys in here with great character and building a winning team, and me coming here right now is for my team. I'm tired of sitting at the house worried about what's going on with my"
Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis plans to end holdout Monday
July 31
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis will end his short holdout on Monday, reporting to camp, Lewis told the Times-Union. "Basically they still are negotiating but I'm tired of not being with my team! And I need to be there..." Lewis said via text message. Lewis plans on being in Jacksonville by Monday for meetings and walk-throughs until his deal is finished. The Jaguars franchised Lewis in February and the Pro Bowl tight end signed his franchise tender in March. The franchise tag would pay him $7.3 million for a one-year deal, but Lewis does not want to play for a one-year deal. He wants a long-term deal and the Jaguars said they want to give him one. Still, the Jaguars were unable to reach"
Marcedes Lewis one of few key players not at Jaguars facility Tuesday
July 27
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis was one of the few players on the Jaguars roster who did not arrive at the facility on Tuesday for voluntary activities. Lewis was still in Southern California as of Tuesday afternoon. The Jaguars placed the franchise tag on Lewis in February but tried to negotiate a long-term deal even after that. The tight end has said he planned to stay in Los Angeles until his long-term deal is done, but also said it wasn't in him to hold out. Early this afternoon, the Jaguars had yet to begin negotiations with Lewis' agent."
Signing TE Lewis to new deal 'at the top' of Jaguars GM's list
July 18
NFL.com
 
"The Jacksonville Jaguars will have an inward focus when the sure-to-be furious free-agency period begins in the NFL. Their top priority will be tight end Marcedes Lewis. The team placed the franchise tag on its leading receiver prior to the lockout, but the Jags are looking to lock up the All-Pro to a long-term deal. General manager Gene Smith told the Florida Times-Union in Sunday's edition that re-signing the playmaker is at "at the top" of his checklist. "Our own players will always be our first priority," Smith said. "I've said this before that it is our objective to get a long-term deal done with Marcedes." Lewis made the leap in a 2010 season in which he caught more touchdown passes"
Jaguars TE Lewis looking for payday after breakout 2010
June 17
NFL.com
 
"Marcedes Lewis had the best season of his NFL career in 2010, becoming one of the most productive tight ends in football. The Jacksonville Jaguars responded by placing the franchise tag on Lewis in February, shortly before the lockout froze all business. The move took Lewis out of the limbo that other pending free agents in the league are feeling. But he also believes he deserves a long-term deal that rewards the progress he's made in his five years with the Jags. "It's a catch-22, man," Lewis told profootballweekly.com,speaking about his franchise designation. "I want a long-term contract, and I know Jacksonville wants me there. I love playing in Jacksonville and who I work with there."
Jaguars' Lewis happy with life - just not with franchise tag
June 16
Pro Football Weekly
 
"Like the other 2,000 or so NFL players hoping and praying that the recent swell of optimism in the labor talks is accurate, Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis hopes the good times can roll again soon. The difference that is that he's just not lapping up the recent chatter and taking it as gospel. "Lies are truth, and truth are lies," Lewis said by telephone this week from his offseason home outside Los Angeles. "Anyone who says more than 'I don't know' doesn't know (what's going on in the labor talks)." Short of invoking Macbeth's witches, all Lewis will say is that he'll believe it when he sees it. Lewis is a man of actions, not words, and as he waits for something final in the CBA talks he also"
Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis talks Blaine Gabbert
May 20
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"NFL Network had Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis in studio yesterday and became the latest Jaguars player to express support for veteran quarterback David Garrard. "Dave is one of those guys that when his back is against the wall, he's coming out fighting," Lewis said. "...Dave is going to accept the competition, take Blaine [Gabbert] under his wing and continue to be our quarterback and do exactly what he's been doing since I've been here. And that's continue to be a leader on and off the field, in the community and doing his thing. "Dave is in good spirits and we're here to play football. He understands that the franchise, we have to evolve; we have to continue to plan for the future."
Jaguars place franchise tag on Marcedes Lewis
February 24
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars will most likely keep their Pro Bowl tight end for at least another year. Jacksonville placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Marcedes Lewis on Wednesday, unable to reach a long-term deal. The Jaguars will continue to negotiate with Lewis' representation until March 3, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires. After that, they will have to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place before resuming negotiations. Because the tag is non-exclusive, Lewis can negotiate with other teams once the free agency period begins after a new CBA deal is reached. But any other team would have to give the Jaguars two first-round draft picks in order to sign"
Marcedes Lewis deal unlikely by Thursday, Jaguars will likely franchise then keep negotiating
February 23
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"A long-term deal with Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis is unlikely to be reached by Thursday and if it isn't the Jaguars are expected to put the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl tight end by Thursday's deadline. If the Jaguars do tag Lewis, he will be locked in for the following season, but they will continue trying to negotiate a long-term deal until the end of March 3. That's when the collective bargaining agreement expires and all negotiations will halt. The franchising period began on Feb. 10. But according to a source the Jaguars are not especially optimistic a deal will get done, and a franchise tag would be insurance. There's some dispute about the use of the designation as the NFL"
Tag not Marcedes Lewis' game
February 11
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"As if the honor of being named one of the best tight ends in the NFL wasn't enough, Marcedes Lewis turned his trip to the Pro Bowl last month into a group vacation with family and friends. His brothers, his mother and his stepfather went to Hawaii with Lewis, as did a few of his closest friends. They got to meet some of their favorite players — his brother, for example, thinks the Indianapolis Colts' Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers to ever play the game. Lewis' mother always wanted to meet Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, so she did. Lewis had so much fun he wants to go back to the all-star game every year. Two weeks removed from that experience, Lewis' thoughts have"
Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcedes Lewis and Montell Owens selected for Pro Bowl
December 29
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"It's been a tough season for Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. He played through a knee injury for the first 14 games of the season. But despite that, he rushed for a career-high seven 100-yard games. NFL coaches, players and fans rewarded him for his efforts. Jones-Drew, Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis and special teams ace Montell Owens were selected to the Pro Bowl, with Jones-Drew as the lone starter. The three selections are the most for the Jaguars since 1999. "The respect has been there, and this just verifies how everybody feels about [Jones-Drew]," Jaguars running backs coach Earnest Byner said. "When he said 32 teams passed him up, now those teams are showing the respect"
Jaguars Marcedes Lewis' effect on game rivals Dallas Clark's
December 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"While the Indianapolis Colts are known for fast linebackers who use their speed effectively in pass coverage, it's often suggested the NFL's most talented tight ends can't be covered by these defenders. That's been said for years about the Colts' Dallas Clark. Now the same would appear to be true for emerging Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis. Lewis, when pressed on the opinion that a linebacker can't cover him, said, "I'd like to think so, too." Colts middle linebacker Gary Brackett respectfully disagrees. "Us linebackers, we always laugh (when we hear) who we can't cover," Brackett said. "I can cover a receiver. Look at the film. "For me, I don't really get caught"
Big target Marcedes Lewis putting up big numbers for Jaguars
November 8
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has advice for fantasy league players who are upset that Maurice Jones-Drew had just one rushing touchdown in the first half of the year. They should have drafted tight end Marcedes Lewis on their team. "His college teammate [Lewis] is getting those touchdowns," Del Rio said. "Marcedes has basically half [seven] of Maurice's number from last year [15]. He's had a terrific first half of the year." Lewis, already noted as a dominating blocker, has become a weapon in the passing game this year and is a candidate for Pro Bowl honors. After having 32 catches all of last year, and a total of seven touchdowns in his first four seasons, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Lewis has"
Maurice Jones-Drew joins the Marcedes Lewis love-fest
August 20
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Why was Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew such a successful running back at UCLA? To hear him tell it, it's because of Marcedes Lewis. Jones-Drew was asked today about Lewis's blocking ability, despite coming out of UCLA known as more of a pass-catching tight end. Jones-Drew countered by saying he always followed Lewis's blocks and when Lewis left school, he figured it was time for him to leave, too. "My last two years in college I ran the ball behind Marcedes and that was it," Jones-Drew said. "I always ran it to the strong side, never to the weak side. No one really knew that until we got to the NFL because I think out of the 970 yards I had in my third year, 800 of them were"
Jaguars' Lewis emerging as pass-catching threat
October 8
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio had a message for tight end Marcedes Lewis at the start of the offseason. "He said, 'Look, man, I want you to be here [for the offseason program],' " Lewis said. "I want to be able to count on you. I want your teammates to know that they can count on you. Part of that is being here for them in the offseason." Lewis, who in the past worked out in Southern California to be close to his mother, stepfather, two brothers and sister, decided to stay in Jacksonville for the offseason program. So far, it's paying dividends. Lewis, now in his fourth season, might finally be the tight end the Jaguars thought they were getting when they drafted him in the first round of the"
Garrard, Lewis make instant connection
July 29
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"When tight end Marcedes Lewis was drafted in the first round by the Jaguars two years ago, quarterback David Garrard made an immediate impression. "It's weird because my rookie year when I came in, right away David came to me four times in a row. It stuck out quick. When I was a rookie, everything was moving fast, but I knew who David was very quickly," Lewis said. Lewis said he's never made the kind of immediate connection with a quarterback the way he did with Garrard. "Not even in college and high school. It was like I got on the field and, 'bam, bam, bam,' passes [were coming] from everywhere," he said. Not surprisingly, Lewis was impressed with Garrard right from the start. "Even"