FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- No, Greg Lewis doesn't know how Tom Brady's knee is doing. Besides, the Patriots' new No. 3 wide receiver just met his quarterback.
After six years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Lewis was acquired by the Patriots on March 5 in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. He expects to compete for playing time behind starters Randy Moss and Wes Welker in New England and contribute on special teams, where he has experience in a number of roles, including as a gunner on punt coverage.
Lewis has yet to work with Brady, who missed almost all of last season because of a knee injury and subsequent surgery.
"Well, I didn't graduate with a Ph.D., or an M.D., or any of those doctor's terms, so I can't describe what he looks like or what he is," Lewis said Monday on a conference call. "I know that when I get out there, whatever he asks me to do, I'm going to be ready to do it and I'm going to try to do it."
The Patriots, who went 11-5 last season but missed the playoffs, recently traded backup QB Matt Cassel to Kansas City, indicating their confidence in Brady's health.
"I met (Brady) today at a workout in the locker room, and he came up to me and welcomed me to the team," Lewis said. "He seemed like a great guy. I've seen him on film do great things, and I'm just looking forward to (getting to work)."
The Patriots' No. 3 wide receiver for the past couple of seasons, Jabar Gaffney, left to sign a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos.
Lewis caught a touchdown pass against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX in the 2005 season and caught a career-high 48 passes in 2006. But his playing time diminished the last two seasons, and Lewis caught only 19 passes for 247 yards in 2008.
Lewis said he wasn't surprised by the trade and "could sort of see the writing on the wall" with the Eagles.
"I have no ill feelings toward anything that took place in Philadelphia," Lewis said. "I moved on, they moved on and I got a fresh start here."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
