The New England Patriots didn't have to give running back Dion Lewis a shot.
After stints with the Eagles, Browns and Colts, not to mention a season-ending broken leg in 2013, the odds were against Lewis when he signed a futures contract with the Pats the beginning of this year.
Lewis has stepped into the team's staple third-down role -- previously filled by Shane Vereen -- and has flourished, though. He has the fifth-most receiving yards of any running back through four weeks (that's with a bye week), and he's averaged nearly five yards a carry in the run game.
Thursday, Lewis agreed to a two-year, $4.4 million extension with New England, a deal that included a $600K signing bonus and nearly $2 million in incentives.
"They gave me a chance. That's all I can ask for, they gave me a chance," Lewis said via WEEI.com. "It’s on me to repay them. They showed a commitment to me and I just have to honor that and keep on going out there and making [it] right.
