Packers: Marcedes Lewis deserves a lifetime contract

Marcedes Lewis played TE in the NFL for 16 seasons. He spent 12 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the last four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

The former UCLA Bruin doesn’t have the statistics of Tony Gonzalez or Travis Kelce. His best season in terms of receptions, touchdowns, and yards came in 2010 when he was named to his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro team.

Aside from a couple of playoff appearances (AFC Championship appearance in 2017 was Lewis’ last game in Jacksonville), the Jaguars could not find much team success in his time there.

In 2018, No. 89 found a new in Northeast Wisconsin. As a 34-year-old iron man, a blue-collar town like Green Bay, WI had every incentive to make him a fan favorite. He is still exactly that. He was given the nickname “Big Dog” early on in his time for his size (6-6, 270 lbs) and leadership qualities.

Veteran superstars and leaders like Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and David Bakhtiari, who have been playing together for nine seasons, immediately realized how authentic Marcedes Lewis was when he first arrived. How authentic he still is. They noticed how important he would be in the locker room. How important he still is at 38 years old.

They responded to that. It’s easy for rookies and younger, inexperienced players to respond to an older player that has been around the block. But when three experienced legends openly speak about how much they adore and appreciate their friendship and closeness with a new player, you know that player is an incredible human being. That’s exactly what Lewis is.

It’s not the statistics that make No. 89 a great teammate. Yes, when he is called upon, he does his job at an incredibly high level. In four seasons, the California native has totaled 51 catches for 516 yards and four TDs with just one fumble.

Lewis is arguably the best run-blocking TE in the NFL. That’s what makes him so dangerous. At 37 years old, he has the ability to use his size to his advantage when taking on linebackers, edge rushers, and other interior defensive linemen. He does not miss blocks.

This is why his teammates, coaches, Packers fans, and a whole lot of people love Marcedes Lewis. He does the dirty work for his team and always keeps the best perspective. He puts his body on the line every snap for his team because that is his job.

No one has to become a leader. They can just go about their business for their team. Catch some passes. Make a few blocks. Call it a day.

Not Marcedes Lewis.

He has also taken on the responsibility to lead this team along with No. 12, No. 17, and No. 69. He always knows exactly how to motivate and inspire his teammates. To let his friends know that he’ll be with them on that field every Sunday.

That he’ll do whatever it takes to get this team in the right mindset because he cares about what is right in front of them. It would a very wise decision to give Big Dog a lifetime contract, or at the very least keep him signed until the Green Bay Packers bring the Lombardi Trophy home. He deserves to be a champion.