NFL hands Lewis 2-game suspension

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis was suspended for two games without pay by the National Football League for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, one day after pleading guilty to trying to set up a drug deal four years ago.

Lewis will not appeal the punishment and will miss those games in late October, the Ravens said. He plans to play Sunday night at Washington.

Lewis also was fined two weeks’ salary, $380,500, in the decision issued Friday by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. That means Lewis will lose a total of $761,000.

“You have needlessly sullied your own reputation and reinforced unfair and negative public perceptions of NFL players generally,” Tagliabue said.

A drug-related legal violation is grounds for league discipline under the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

A player has five days to appeal a suspension. Although Lewis does not plan to appeal, Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said, he will use the five days to consult with his lawyers, allowing him to play against the Redskins. Baltimore is off the following weekend.

Lewis will miss the Ravens’ home game Oct. 24 against Buffalo and their game Oct. 31 in Philadelphia.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, he will not miss any playing time while serving his sentence of four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house. The sentence will start after the regular season ends in January and conclude before the 2005 season begins.

Lewis missed practice Thursday while in Atlanta and rejoined the team Friday. Before practice, he spoke excitedly about putting his problems behind him.

“It’s a load off my shoulders. Now I can continue on,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about that anymore, and I can just get on with my life and play football.”

Lewis pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug transaction in the summer of 2000 in Atlanta. He knew an NFL suspension would follow his plea, and he was prepared for the punishment.

“It’s over. Something happened, I have to suffer the consequences, and that’s what I’m doing,” he said.

Last year Lewis ran for 2,066 yards — the second-highest single-season total in NFL history. But his off-field problems will put an indelible stamp on his effort to come up with a suitable encore.