If the average lifespan of an NFL career is about three years, then Denver Broncos tight end Marcedes Lewis is playing in dog years.
Lewis was a first-round pick back in 2006, the same year Sean Payton joined the New Orleans Saints as their head coach. The same year Mike Shanahan made a controversial trade up the board for quarterback Jay Cutler. The same year Peyton Manning and the Colts won the Super Bowl, and the Broncos' head coaching counterpart this week -- DeMeco Ryans -- won Defensive Rookie of the Yearwith the Houston Texans.