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By Kent Larsen
RM Lewis May Be Headed To NFL's Pro Bowl
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA -- LDS returned missionary Chad Lewis is
having a great year. A tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, Lewis
is playing the best football of his life, giving a performance that
may take him to the NFL's Pro Bowl, and helping his team improve on
last year's record to the point that the Eagles look like they will
make the playoffs.
Lewis isn't regarded as highly talented, nor was he given any breaks.
Instead he has succeeded through hard work. He was a walk-on at BYU
who didn't stand out enough to make the NFL draft. But he managed to
get in the NFL as a rookie tight end in 1997, only to have a mostly
forgetable first three years in which he started just seven games.
But Lewis has practiced more than others, spent extra time in the
weight room and studied hard in the playbook. He also has a great
quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and the confidence of his coach, fellow
LDS Church member Andy Reid. These factors have combined for
phenomenal results.
Before this past Sunday's game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, Lewis led
the NFL with 40 receptions for 409 yards. He has scored three
touchdowns and has earned the role as McNabb's safety valve in
pressure situations.
Coach Reid is pleased with Lewis' improvement. "He's definitely
stepped it up. He has to be given credit for what he's done to this
point. I felt very comfortable with him as a receiver during training
camp. He's bettered himself at that and he's added in the run game.
He's doing better in that part of his game and becoming a better,
all-around tight end."
Lewis has also managed to become a bit of an authority in the locker
room because of his Chinese language ability, learned during his LDS
mission to Taiwan. The other players ask Lewis for help choosing
Chinese characters with heroic qualities for their tattoos.
Source:
Eagles TE enjoying Pro Bowl-like season
Philadelphia PA Inquirer 18Nov00 S2
By Ron Reid: Inquirer Staff Writer
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