Jamal Lewis Offers Advice to Michael Vick and Weighs in on Crime in the NFL

By admin
Jul 20, 2009
6:31 pm

Jamal Lewis understands the importance of taking advantage of every moment as an NFL player. In 2004, Lewis was convicted of serving as a liaison for a drug deal. He could have been sentenced to 10 years, but he only served four months in a federal prison after striking a deal with prosecutors. Today, Lewis is the starting running back for the Cleveland Browns and spends his time off the field counseling young black men about making good decisions. He recently sat down with rolling out sports to discuss his role as a mentor, crime in the NFL, and how Michael Vick can redeem his career. –amir shaw

You often host football camps for young males. What do you tell them about being champions on and off the field?
I like to give back by hosting free camps every year. We try to get the best out of the kids and let them know that it’s not all about sports. …We let them know the value of hard work. A lot of parents can’t pay $20,000 a year to send their kids to college. But if you work hard and get a scholarship, you can get a free education. And an education will allow you to get a good job and be successful.

You were able to resume a career in the NFL after being incarcerated in 2004. What advice would you give to Michael Vick, who was just released from a 23-month sentence?
Everybody talks about football, but Michael Vick is a human being first. … It’s not about him playing football; it’s about what’s going to be his next step. I think his focus should be [on] get[ting] his life together and [trying to] recover from a [tough] situation. He has been in tough situations on the field, so hopefully, he can learn from that adversity and continue.

What are your thoughts on crime in the NFL?
We’re under a microscope. The media can make stories seem bigger than what they really are. But as professionals, we have to take responsibility for our own actions … and not worry about how the media portrays us. … You have to protect your name because that’s all you have. Because if you respect your name, you will respect yourself and you will respect everyone who is around you.

Jamal Lewis will participate in Community Outreach Day this Saturday at West End Park in Atlanta.

For more information, visit www.jumpright.org.