Posted at 2:03 p.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2007
NFL: 49ers waive returner, replace him with ex-Saint
Advertiser Staff
The San Francisco 49ers today waived receiver/punt returner Brandon Williams and signed former New Orleans Saints kick returner Michael Lewis.
In addition, the 49ers signed linebacker Tyson Smith to the practice squad. The 49ers had an extra spot on the practice squad after FB Zak Keasey joined the 53-man roster last week when LB Manny Lawson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
According to sf49ers.com, Lewis, (5-8, 173), originally joined New Orleans in 2001 at the age of 29. Before making the final roster, Lewis had worked several jobs to support his family following his high school graduation 11 years earlier. He did not play college football. San Francisco special teams coordinator Al Everest was the special teams coach at the Saints with Lewis for four seasons (2001-05).
"It is always a difficult decision to make a move like this during the season," said head coach Mike Nolan on the team's Web site. "It is never easy to waive a player. Brandon was a big part of the progress that we continued to make. We made this difficult decision because we feel it is best for our team going forward. Brandon had an outstanding offseason, and I still believe he will make an impact in the NFL."
During his six NFL seasons, Lewis has 243 kickoff returns for a 24.3-yard average and three touchdowns, and 142 punt returns for a 10.4-yard average and one touchdown and 28 receptions for 553 and one touchdown.
Lewis was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2002 after setting a team single-season record for kickoff return yardage (1,807) and punt return yardage (625). His 2,432 combined yards in 2002 set a team record.
"Michael Lewis is an exceptional returner who has experience and has been to a Pro Bowl," said special teams coordinator Al Everest. "We are picking up a player who has been there and knows what it is supposed to look like. I am looking forward to Michael getting a fresh start on our team."
Lewis went to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000 but was waived prior to the start of the season. He joined the Saints practice squad late that year. Prior to his first attempt at making an NFL roster, Lewis played for the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League and the Louisiana Bayou Beast of the Indoor Professional Football League.
Williams originally was the 49ers third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2006. He played in 13 games last season and the first three games of the 2007 season.
Smith, (6-2, 240), was originally signed by Baltimore as a rookie free agent in 2005 out of Iowa State. He joined the New York Giants practice squad in January of 2006 and was then allocated to NFL Europa. Smith spent part of 2006 on the Giants practice squad before joining the 53-man roster and seeing action in three games on special teams. He went to training camp with the Giants this past summer but was waived prior to the start of the regular season.
