Tuesday was both difficult and delightful for Chad Lewis.
The former BYU tight end was informed Tuesday morning that the St. Louis Rams, the team that signed him to a free agent contract last season, was going to release him.Lewis, a third-year pro who started his career in Philadelphia, played sparingly this season, catching just one pass for 12 yards for the surprising Rams. After cleaning out his locker, Lewis had an exit interview with coach Dick Vermeil and was left pondering his future.
"For six or seven hours, I was just kind of floating," he says.
Then, Tuesday night, his agent told him the San Francisco 49ers had picked him up off waivers. The 49ers were his favorite team while he was in high school and at BYU because of quarterback Steve Young, who is a good friend of Lewis'.
"They run a BYU offense. I'll fit in better with them," Lewis said. "I'm very excited. It's a dream come true." He is scheduled to catch a flight to California Wednesday and report to 49ers headquarters.
The 49ers and Rams play Sunday in San Francisco.
In other 49er news: The team suspended running back Lawrence Phillips and he will be cut as soon as the team determines the effect on its salary cap.
The 49ers have said Phillips will never play for them again because he refused to take part in drills during practice.
"Over the course of time he began to lose interest and almost shut it down mentally, as well as physically," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said Monday.
If Phillips is released and signed by another team, the $212,500 half of his bonus to be counted against next year's cap would be counted this year. That would take up nearly all available room the team now has under the cap.
Associated Press contributed to this report.