Keenan Lewis: I wasn’t one of Dennis Allen’s guys

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The Saints have parted ways with cornerback Keenan Lewis, who believes that a long-standing icy relationship with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is the reason why he’s been dropped from the roster.

In an interview with Josina Anderson of ESPN, Lewis said he has never been one of Allen’s guys and that the root of the issue came before Lewis was even in the NFL.

“I worked out for the Saints,” Lewis said. “He was a defensive backs coach. He told me face-to-face that I wasn’t going to make it. So I always used that as my motivation every time I see him. Like nobody ever told me that I would never have a chance. … So then he comes back, and my only message to him was, ‘man look, seven years later, I’m still standing. I’m standing strong. I’m playing at the highest level. I’m starting and I’m competing at the top of the level. So, anything is possible.’ He took it the wrong way. I think he took it as me being arrogant. I’m just [telling him] never doubt a man on what God has planned for them … Anybody can accomplish anything if you give them a try. Never doubt a man before giving him a try. I don’t know if he took that the wrong way.”

Lewis said the relationship with Allen was the “only thing I can see that made them pull the trigger.” Saints coach Sean Payton pointed in another direction, however.

Payton said Saturday, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune, that word of an issue between Lewis and Allen was news to him and that Lewis’ injuries were the reason the team moved on. Lewis missed 10 games last season and has practiced once this summer while dealing with an adductor injury, leaving Payton to say “it seems like a long time” since they’ve been able to count on the corner.

Lewis says he wanted to be 100 percent before returning to the field and believes he will be in two weeks, at which point he’ll try to “show [the Saints] that they made a mistake” by releasing him.

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