Michael Lewis ( wide receiver ) Michael Lee Lewis ( born November 14 , 1971 ) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently the team ambassador of the New Orleans Saints . He was signed by the Louisiana Bayou Beast in 1998 . He did not play college football . Lewis has also been a member of the New Orleans Thunder , New Jersey Red Dogs , Philadelphia Eagles , New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers . Early years . Lewis graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie , Louisiana in 1990 . Professional career . Early career . In 2000 , he was a former Budweiser beer truck driver ( thus , the nickname " Beer Man " ) who never went to college , and waded through the various semi - professional football leagues , pro indoor leagues , and the Arena Football League . Philadelphia Eagles . Finally , he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason in 2000 . He was cut before the regular season began . New Orleans Saints . Michael returned to his hometown to deliver beer locally . But , at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season the New Orleans Saints gave him a chance by signing him . Then the Saints sent him over to play for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2001 . Lewis was the feature return specialist for the Saints from 2002 until September 19 , 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands , where he injured his MCL and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season . He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29 , 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens . In 2002 , Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick - punt return yardage with 2 , 432 yards total ( 1 , 807 kickoff , 625 punt ) . He is currently the Saints ' all - time career leader in punt returns ( 142 ) and punt return yardage ( 1 , 482 ) . On December 21 , 2003 , he also played a role in the River City Relay as one of the receivers that would lateral a touchdown in a last second attempt to win the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars ( in which the Saints lost ) . The River City Relay won an ESPY , NFL play of the year , and an ESPN . com internet poll . In April 2006 Lewis returned to the Saints for a shot at one last season after a rehabilitating his knee injury . On June 15 , 2007 the Saints released him . The local New Orleans newspaper , the " Times - Picayune " , titled the news , " There ' s a Tear in My Beer " because he was a local inspiration , going from beer truck driver to NFL star . San Francisco 49ers . On September 25 , 2007 , Lewis was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to take over punt return duties . The incumbent punt returner , Brandon Williams , was released . New Orleans VooDoo . Lewis signed a contract with the New Orleans VooDoo on October 10 , 2008 . Team officials were preparing to make the announcement the following week , but the owner ( Tom Benson , also the owner of the New Orleans Saints ) decided to terminate operations on October 13 , 2008 . Lewis subsequently took a position as a " Team Ambassador " for the Saints . Although no longer playing , Lewis was awarded a Super Bowl ring after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in recognition of his continuing role with the team . Career Stats . Receiving Stats Returning Stats