There are always some bizarre stories in the latter stages of the NFL draft.
In the 2016 edition, the Baltimore Ravens almost didn’t draft a player because they couldn’t reach him when they called.
Nebraska offensive tackle Alex Lewis was waiting for that phone call, and in order to pass the time he did some grocery shopping. Because these stories always work out like this, that’s exactly when the Ravens intended to draft Lewis. But when they called to tell him the happy news, John Harbaugh couldn’t reach Lewis on his cell phone.
Like all enterprising head coaches, the Ravens head man called Lewis’ house phone. His mom picked up, but the exchange didn’t go quite as expected:
“So I get on the phone with his mom and I go, ‘Is Alex there?’ And she goes, ‘No, he’s not, may I ask who’s calling?’ ” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “And I’m like, ‘Uh, it’s John Harbaugh with the Ravens.’ ”
Lewis’ mother told Harbaugh he was at the store and would be back soon. Then, she responded further with this zinger, “Now, who is this team again?”
Luckily, Lewis returned home just as this exchange was getting weirder and then the celebrations could really begin. For some Ravens fans, this story will sound familiar, because 20 years ago the Ravens drafted wideout Jermaine Lewis without actually reaching him on the phone to tell him he was drafted.
The No. 130 overall pick will have a great story to tell his kids and grandkids one day, regardless of how his NFL career goes.
[ESPN]
