It was such a great story at the time.
Keenan Lewis joining the New Orleans Saints in free agency in 2013 just seemed right. Hometown kid makes good in the NFL, joins the team he followed as a youngster and aids them in their continued quest for another Super Bowl victory.
Only now, two short seasons after his initial signing, Lewis has become angered, disillusioned, disgruntled and he wants out - a development which could explain the Saints' intense focus on adding another cornerback in free agency.
"Meanwhile, #Saints made a major push to sign CB Brandon Browner yesterday, offering him more than $5M per year. Could help that locker room," Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted Thursday.
Browner, of course, spent last season with the New England Patriots, a year which culminated in yet another Lombardi Trophy for Pats coach Bill Belichick's mantel.
The 30-year-old Browner joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 after an early-career stint in the Canadian Football League. He appeared in 16 games his first NFL season, collecting 54 tackles, six interceptions and 23 passes defensed.
Browner has struggled to stay healthy since - something Lewis has been able to avoid - and hasn't managed more than 12 games in any of the past three seasons.
Lewis is both younger, 28, and healthier than Browner and has become arguably the Saints' best defensive player.
Still, after the Jimmy Graham trade, Lewis sounds like a guy that wants out of New Orleans.
"I think it's time for me to take my talent somewhere else. New Orleans it has been good," Lewis wrote on his Instagram page, per Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times Picayune. "I only want fairness. I would love to stay and play for my hometown but I only want to be treated fairly."
Lewis went on in further posts to question the Saints' loyalty and espouse his desire to know if he's going to be in New Orleans for the remainder of his contract.
While a move for Browner would in no way signify the end for Lewis - he's under contract for three more years - it certainly gives the Saints another option at the position and further leverage should Lewis continue to make noise.
