Bizarre. Lewis demoted/asks for release (dn travel to atl) (1 Viewer)

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/02/3073621/s...nk=omni_popular

Starting safety Lewis latest 49er to want off the team

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By Matthew Barrows

mbarrows@sacbee.com

Published: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1C

Last Modified: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 - 12:16 am

SANTA CLARA – Add starting safety Michael Lewis to a growing list of players who want no part of the 49ers' organization.

Lewis, who has started every game but one during his 49ers tenure, asked for his release Friday, according to agent Rodney Williams.

Lewis did not make the trip to Atlanta. Taylor Mays, a rookie, and Reggie Smith, a third-year player, are expected to take over the position Sunday against the Falcons.

Williams said a "lack of trust" in the 49ers' organization prompted his client's move.

The rift began earlier this week when two reports, from the NFL Network and ESPN, surfaced that Lewis and linebacker Takeo Spikes would be benched for the team's upcoming game against the Falcons.

Lewis was assured by coaches that his role would not be altered, Williams said. That message, however, changed on Friday morning when Lewis was told that the team wanted to begin easing second-round pick Taylor Mays into the lineup. Lewis would remain the starter in Atlanta, he was told, but the 49ers wanted him to become more of a mentor to Mays from this point forth.

"We're not interested in the direction the organization is going," Williams said.

Lewis, 30, is essentially the third 49er to step away from the team in the past two months.

Defensive end Kentwan Balmer missed several practice sessions this summer because of "personal reasons," and he was later traded to Seattle. Another 49er, running back Glen Coffee, abruptly quit the team during training camp.

Lewis, however, is the most veteran and certainly the most respected team member to quit. A nine-year veteran, he was signed along with cornerback Nate Clements in 2007 to add experience and leadership to the team's secondary.

Lewis skipped Friday's practice and was not with the team as it boarded buses for the airport. Before Williams' remarks, coach Mike Singletary said that Lewis' absence was due to "personal reasons," the same explanation he gave when Balmer was a no show in August.

"I told him to go ahead and do what he has to do," Singletary said. "As far as if he'll make the trip or not, I'm not sure at this point. It depends on if things get worked out or not. But once again, it's personal reasons. And it's on Mike. I don't talk about that. You'll have to talk about him about that."

Mays had been used solely on special teams through the first three games this season.

"I've been ready to play, so it's not like it's any different," Mays said. "I'm approaching it the same way, and they've been preparing me to play for when I need to step in and help the team."

Asked why Mays, not third-year player Reggie Smith, got most of the first-team repetitions Friday, Singletary said Mays needed to get up to speed more than Smith.

"Reggie has a good feel for what we're doing," Singletary said. "Taylor, in case he has to play, whether it's a sub-situation or base situation, it's just a matter of him knowing as much as he can, and we want to get him all the reps that he possibly can."

In July, Singletary hinted there might be changes in the secondary when he said that age had cost the 49ers some speed. One of the team's older safeties from 2009, Mark Roman, was not re-signed. Lewis, meanwhile, accepted a pay decrease that essentially cut his 2010 salary in half – he had been due to make $4.1 million in base salary – and eliminated the final two years of his deal.

As for Spikes, he also was assured that he would retain his starting spot. However, the 13-year veteran has been dealing with a bruised knee, and he lost some of his snaps to rookie NaVorro Bowman on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. Spikes is probable to play in Atlanta.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/02/3073621/s...r#ixzz11FarZSuC

 

[Superty88x]

Rough time to be a 49er fan.

Great time to be a owner of Roddy and Matt Ryan.

Feeling pretty meeeeh.

 

[I was in the pool]

Sounds like another big day for Gonzo tomorrow....

 

[The_U]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

It says a lot when Raider's beat writer Jerry McDonald can talk smack about the team across the bay being more dysfunctional. He fills in for the Niners beat writer on occasion and relates the mess in this blog entry. The Niners it seems are really hurting.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2010...-catch-raiders/

 

[gregjcross]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

Nope, I dont agree at all. Singletary is hte best thing to happen to SF in 10 years, and I dont care about a 0-3 start.First, Kentwan Balmer is/was absolutely nothing (short of a team cancer) >reach of a draft pick. Nice move trading him away. Coffee has nothing to do with the other two. He made a decision probably based on his youth and whatever religious calling he had to go back to the deep South> remember, the SF Bay Area is a WHOLE LOT different than the south. Ask Jamarcus Russell.Michael Lewis, while at least he has a track record in the league, has been invisible. I watch every game and never saw him make a play; shame on Singletary for not moving him out sooner. If Lewis felt lied to this week, I am sure its possible he was lied to.But, whatever, these guys are millionaires, they can take it, assuredly.I have no worries about the 49ers this season other than they will have a hard time getting to 10 games. But its still entirely possible.Just remember 6-0 Denver last year. A few early games does not a season make.

 

[Kree]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

2007 with Nolan - A bad 5-11 team with a few wins at the end of the year when they were out of reach2008 with Nolan - 2-5 with wins only against the Lions (Winless in 08) and a win against Seattle by only 3 points, who only won 4 games in 082008 second half of year with Singletary - 5-4, despite the fact that their schedule became ridiculously easier in the second half, they looked a much much better team overall2009 - 8-8, still inconsistent away from home but getting betterDeserves a bit more credit than being only a disaster maybe?

 

[The_U]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

Nope, I dont agree at all. Singletary is hte best thing to happen to SF in 10 years, and I dont care about a 0-3 start.First, Kentwan Balmer is/was absolutely nothing (short of a team cancer) >reach of a draft pick. Nice move trading him away. Coffee has nothing to do with the other two. He made a decision probably based on his youth and whatever religious calling he had to go back to the deep South> remember, the SF Bay Area is a WHOLE LOT different than the south. Ask Jamarcus Russell.Michael Lewis, while at least he has a track record in the league, has been invisible. I watch every game and never saw him make a play; shame on Singletary for not moving him out sooner. If Lewis felt lied to this week, I am sure its possible he was lied to.But, whatever, these guys are millionaires, they can take it, assuredly.I have no worries about the 49ers this season other than they will have a hard time getting to 10 games. But its still entirely possible.Just remember 6-0 Denver last year. A few early games does not a season make.

Good, solid response. I respectfully disagree but I do respect your opinion as presented very intelligently. Singletary is a disaster though, sorry. Look to your left [screen] to see which team I back and know I love Samurai Mike. Sorry - fiasco. He's not cut out to be a HC.

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

I agree... They should fire him.

So the Bills can hire him.

 

[westbrook36]

The Eagles benched Michael Lewis in 2005 when he couldn't cover at all. I'm surprised he is even still in the NFL.

 

[Insein]

The Eagles benched Michael Lewis in 2005 when he couldn't cover at all. I'm surprised he is even still in the NFL.

The guy was a great hitter but routinely out of position. Can't really have that when your the Strong Safety.

 

[shadyridr]

Hey, Lewis is a heck of a writer

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I think most Niner fans will admit there are some concerns with Singletary.

I don't think many Niner fans will have any issue with this.

Lewis needed to get benched. If he's going to throw a tantrum then I hope the team trades him for whatever they can get.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Singletary is proving to be a disaster for the Niners. Sorry Niner fans; he was a phenomenal player but what a downer as head coach.

Nope, I dont agree at all. Singletary is hte best thing to happen to SF in 10 years, and I dont care about a 0-3 start.First, Kentwan Balmer is/was absolutely nothing (short of a team cancer) >reach of a draft pick. Nice move trading him away. Coffee has nothing to do with the other two. He made a decision probably based on his youth and whatever religious calling he had to go back to the deep South> remember, the SF Bay Area is a WHOLE LOT different than the south. Ask Jamarcus Russell.Michael Lewis, while at least he has a track record in the league, has been invisible. I watch every game and never saw him make a play; shame on Singletary for not moving him out sooner. If Lewis felt lied to this week, I am sure its possible he was lied to.But, whatever, these guys are millionaires, they can take it, assuredly.I have no worries about the 49ers this season other than they will have a hard time getting to 10 games. But its still entirely possible.Just remember 6-0 Denver last year. A few early games does not a season make.

Good, solid response. I respectfully disagree but I do respect your opinion as presented very intelligently. Singletary is a disaster though, sorry. Look to your left [screen] to see which team I back and know I love Samurai Mike. Sorry - fiasco. He's not cut out to be a HC.

I agree, Mike would be better served to go back to being a defensive coordinator. He reminds me of Jim Haslett in that regard.

 

[cstu]

The Eagles benched Michael Lewis in 2005 when he couldn't cover at all. I'm surprised he is even still in the NFL.

The guy was a great hitter but routinely out of position. Can't really have that when your the Strong Safety.

Good thing they're replacing him with Mays then.