As Jamal Lewis awaits trial on federal drug conspiracy charges, casting a shadow of uncertainty over his future as well as the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes, the lingering question in training camp is:
Can Lewis be the same record-breaking running back he was a year ago?
Can he carry this offense once again, this time while bearing the weight from his personal life?
No one can give a definitive answer - not even Lewis himself - but the consensus among club officials, teammates and educated observers is Lewis has a solid chance to shake off distractions like another would-be tackler.
"His mental toughness is extraordinary," said Matt Simon, Lewis' position coach for the past four years. "He's the type of individual that is courageous enough to undertake some of the most difficult tasks that a human being would have to endeavor. I think he would be up to anything."
The Ravens' faith is not a blind one. Their confidence comes from knowing that he exuded determination in overcoming a difficult injury history (season-ending, reconstructive knee surgeries in 1998 and 2001) and displayed a steely focus last season in compiling the second-most yards in NFL history (2,066), while knowing the charges were on the horizon.
Lewis, 24, was charged with conspiring to possess, with the intent to distribute, 5 kilograms of cocaine and using a cell phone in the commission of that act. He faces a mandatory prison term of at least 10 years if convicted. A team official said Lewis had hired his legal team before last season to prepare for the possibility of being charged based on an incident that took place in the summer of 2000.
No trial date has been set, though it appears as if the trial could be held during the regular season or shortly thereafter. A request will be made to delay the trial until after the season, Lewis' attorney said.
Coach Brian Billick said the organization continues to monitor Lewis closely because "human nature would dictate that it's apt to be a distraction."
The Ravens, though, might be surprised how well the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year deals with the pressure. Joel Fish, a noted psychologist and consultant to the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers and Phillies, said athletes have a favorable history of reacting to personal trauma.
