NFL
Ravens' Lewis has conspiracy trial set
By The Source
Aug 13, 2004

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jamal Lewis' drug conspiracy trial was set on Thursday and the NFL's leading rusher last season is slated to be in court beginning November 1 in the middle of the 2004 campaign.

The date that was set by a federal court falls between the eighth and ninth weeks of the upcoming season. If the trial goes on as scheduled, Lewis could miss several games for Baltimore.

The Ravens will be on the road at Philadelphia on October 31 and host rival Cleveland in what could be a pivotal division game the following Sunday.

Lewis was indicted on federal drug charges by a grand jury in Atlanta back in February. He has been accused of trying to help a childhood friend buy up to 50 kilograms of cocaine in a deal that turned out to be part of an FBI sting operation in the summer of 2000.

The Pro Bowl running back was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and using a cell phone in the commission of a drug crime. If convicted on the first count, he could face a mandatory prison term of at least 10 years

Last season, Lewis became the fifth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards and amassed the second-highest single-season yardage total in NFL history (2,066 yards). He also broke the NFL's single-game rushing record with a 295-yard effort against Cleveland on September 14.

The University of Tennessee product was Baltimore's first-round pick in the 2000 draft (fifth overall), and rushed for 1,364 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie when the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV.