NFL notebook: Retired RB Lewis says he's considered suicide

[May 30, 2018]  Former All-Pro NFL running back Jamal Lewis said Tuesday he has considered suicide as he struggles with depression and medical issues that included at least 10 concussions during his playing career.

"You think about death," the former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns back said in an interview with Bleacher Report. "I've thought about suicide. I've thought about ending it all."

Lewis, 38, said he has never gotten as far as planning his death, but he is not completely rid of suicidal thoughts. He said he battles sleep apnea, headaches, depression and a fluctuating temper and discussed his concerns in the context of former teammates Orlando Bobo, Orlando Brown and Damion Cook, who died of health-related issues.

"You just have those thoughts about should you end it?" he said. "I can only imagine with sleep apnea and heart attacks and heart disease. Who wants to go out like that? Especially when you have people upset with you -- your wife upset with you, pissed off, you have to file bankruptcy, made bad decisions..."

--Free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall agreed to a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, according to published reports.

Marshall, 34, posted a picture of himself on Instagram sporting a Seahawks "12" shirt with FAN written on the back, saying "Always wanted to play in front of these fans.. . @seahawks"

ESPN reported the deal is worth a maximum of $2 million if all incentives are hit. The Seahawks haven't yet confirmed signing Marshall, who was released by the New York Giants on April 19 after playing in just five games due to an ankle injury last fall. He caught 18 passes for 154 yards and no touchdowns.

--Free agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks will visit the Minnesota Vikings, the Oakland Raiders and the Cleveland Browns before making a decision on who to sign with this week, according to a Yahoo Sports report.

Kendricks, 27, was released in a salary-saving move last week by the Philadelphia Eagles after his name surfaced in trade rumors throughout the offseason.

Kendricks played in 85 of a possible 96 games over his first six seasons, all with the Eagles, starting 74. He finished 2017 with 77 tackles and six passes defensed. He was due to make $5.85 million in base salary in 2018 before his release.

--Odell Beckham Jr. was excused from a non-mandatory workout, but the New York Giants expect the All-Pro wide receiver to be back on the field soon.

"Odell is looking forward to getting out here. He's getting pretty close to being fully cleared," head coach Pat Shurmur said.

Beckham, who is recovering from a fractured left ankle, an injury that ended his 2017 season in Week 5, and cornerback Janoris Jenkins were among veterans who weren't present at the start of workouts. Shurmur said the players informed the Giants in advance of their expected absence.

--Quarterback Nick Foles was not aware of any trade offer the Browns made to the Eagles in the offseason.

Foles, who went 3-0 in the playoffs and was Super Bowl MVP after replacing injured starter Carson Wentz with the Eagles, told the Philadelphia Inquirer he was never presented any reported offer from the Browns. NFL Network reported the Browns offered the No. 35 pick, but Philadelphia turned it down and Cleveland went on to acquire Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills.

"First I heard of it was when someone texted me asking if it was true,'' Foles said. "Trade scenario never got to me, if true."

--Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif graduated from McGill Medical School after four years of pulling double duty.

A sixth-round pick in 2014 , Duvernay-Tardif walked in his ceremony wearing a white lab coat bearing the block letters: DR. DUVERNAY-TARDIF and his number, 76, in the Chiefs' trademark red and yellow.

"Since the day I got drafted, I promised myself I was going to finish my studies and get that M.D. while I was still playing," Duvernay-Tardif said. "It's one of those life projects that you promise yourself you're going to accomplish, and I'm on the verge of doing it, so I'm pretty excited.

--Linebacker Shea McClellin is ready to retire from the NFL and coach high school football in Idaho at age 28 if the phone doesn't ring soon.

McClellin, a former first-round pick out of Boise State, told ESPN he did not officially retire from the NFL but is leaning that direction due to the cumulative effect of five documented concussions.

McClellin did not play in 2017 after starting the season on injured reserve. He attempted to return and practiced for two weeks but was never activated. The Patriots released McClellin, taken in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Chicago Bears, in March with one year remaining on his contract.

--The fledgling Alliance of American Football confirmed that San Diego has been selected as one of the league's eight franchises.

The team will be coached by San Diego native Mike Martz, 67, who had a 53-32 record in five-plus seasons with the Rams from 2000-05. His 2001 squad reached the Super Bowl before losing to New England.

San Diego is the sixth city to land a team, joining Atlanta, Memphis, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

--Field Level Media

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.