The New Orleans Saints have released Keenan Lewis, the cornerback told ESPN on Friday.
Although the seven-year veteran was one of the Saints' top players in 2013 and 2014, he has been plagued by a hip injury over the past two years that might have become a point of contention. And Lewis said he never meshed with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen like he did with former DC Rob Ryan, who was fired in November.
Lewis' base salary of $2.7 million this season is fully guaranteed, so the Saints won't realize any salary-cap savings. But they apparently were ready to move on with a group of young cornerbacks who have shown impressive potential this summer.
"It's a business. They can't wait on one player. They gotta do what's best for them, and I gotta do what's best for me," said Lewis, who said he still has the utmost respect for head coach Sean Payton and the Saints organization -- but added he didn't feel as comfortable over the past year, especially after Ryan was fired.
"I'm excited. I'm not even mad about it. I'm happy. I'm gonna get a fresh start on life. I'm good. Sometimes you need this type of struggle to happen," Lewis said. "I finally have the opportunity to be myself and go somewhere else and be comfortable."
Lewis, who began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with his hometown Saints in 2013, said he heard through other people that he "wasn't [Allen's] guy." Allen rejoined the Saints staff as a senior assistant in January 2015 but was a defensive backs coach for the organization seven years ago when Lewis worked out for the team.
"He told me face-to-face that I wasn't going to make it," Lewis told ESPN's Josina Anderson. "So I always used that as my motivation every time I see him. Like, nobody ever told me that I would never have a chance. ... So then he comes back, and my only message to him was, 'Man, look, seven years later, I'm still standing. I'm standing strong. I'm playing at the highest level. I'm starting and I'm competing at the top of the level. So, anything is possible.'
"He took it the wrong way. I think he took it as me being arrogant. I'm just [telling him] never doubt a man on what God has planned for them. ... Anybody can accomplish anything if you give them a try. Never doubt a man before giving him a try. I don't know if he took that the wrong way."
Lewis also said he thinks the Saints were "obviously having problems with my injury situation."
The Saints have not commented on Lewis' release, but the decision likely was made for chemistry reasons as much as football reasons.
Lewis practiced only once during training camp while slowly recovering from a hip injury that limited him to six games and zero starts last year.
Lewis said he suffered a minor tear in June and wanted to wait until he was closer to 100 percent healthy, rather than play at 70 percent in the preseason and risk never getting back to full strength. He thinks he can get close to 100 percent by Week 1 of the regular season.
Lewis made that clear to the team -- and through a handful of media interviews last week, which probably didn't help his situation.
The Saints could have used Lewis this season if healthy. They had one of the worst pass defenses in NFL history last year, setting all-time records for TD passes allowed and highest opponents' passer rating.
But New Orleans apparently didn't have faith that Lewis could get back to the level he was playing at in 2013 and 2014, when he routinely matched up against No. 1 receivers.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pounder had six interceptions and 22 pass defenses from 2013 to 2014. He has seven interceptions and 53 pass defenses in his career.
The Saints have supreme confidence in second-year pro Delvin Breaux, who has taken over their No. 1 cornerback role. And they are very high on the potential of second-year pros P.J. Williams and Damian Swann and undrafted rookies De'Vante Harris and Ken Crawley.
Even Lewis complimented that group, saying, "Breaux's gonna be an all-star, and he can lead that group." He added that Harris is "gonna be a star" and praised the other three.
Lewis said the hardest part of his release is leaving his hometown team. He is a passionate New Orleanian who holds several youth camps throughout the area and said he got to "live my dream" by playing in the Superdome and serving as a role model to the youth in the community.
Lewis added, though, that he is eager to come back to the Superdome as an opponent and show the Saints they made a mistake. He said he considers himself at the level of guys like Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis when he's healthy.
"It's a business. Even Peyton Manning was released, and look at the things he accomplished," Lewis said.