The Patriots signed Lewis to a contract extension through the 2017 season, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source who has seen the deal.
Advertisement
Dion Lewis’ hot start has paid off.
The Patriots have announced that they have agreed to a 2-year contract extension with Lewis that will run through 2017.
Lewis’ deal is worth up to $5 million, with a $2.6 million base salary as well as a $600,000 signing bonus.
But as Lewis essentially explained Thursday, when you’ve spent the last two years either on season-ending injured reserve with a broken leg (2013, Browns), getting cut twice (2014, Browns, Colts) and then wondering if your career is over, perspective is altered. Lewis is now rushing 4.9 yards per every carry, and combining him with LeGarrette Blount gives the Patriots a solid backfield.
So consider, at least for now, the Patriots appear more stable at a position that looked the opposite during the offseason with the losses of Shane Vereen (Giants) and Stevan Ridley (Jets). We could use him as a kick returner.
“I don’t got time to think about that right now”. He works hard. He’s tough. He’s never going to be a 240-pound power back, but for his size he’s got good power and explosiveness.
Advertisement
“His quickness and the way he makes guys miss is just unreal”, said tight end Rob Gronkowski. “You love to coach guys like that”. And we’ve got a lot of work to do. We have a few other options, but he’s shown value in the kicking game, shown value on all three downs on offense. “He has learned a lot of different spots, different adjustments, all the different blitz pickups and so forth in the passing game”.
