Birds' Dion Lewis off hook in fire-alarm caper

BETHLEHEM – Turns out, Dion Lewis and his brother , Lamar, didn't pull a fire alarm at 4 a.m. July 8 at an Albany, N.Y., Hampton Inn, after all. Albany County assistant district attorney David Gonzalez explained Monday in court how the clear plastic case covering the alarm was jostled, setting off an alarm that the hotel staff described to police as a fire alarm, the Albany Times-Union reported.

The difference in alarms was the difference between being on the hook for a possible felony count of falsely reporting a fire and having the case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal – dismissed, as long as you stay out of trouble for the next 6 months.

"There was no evidence a fire alarm was ever pulled," Dion Lewis' attorney, Craig Crist, told the Daily News.

Lewis, a second-year Eagles running back, is scheduled to report to training camp with the bulk of the veterans Wednesday. He released a statement through the team: "I want to thank my family and the Philadelphia Eagles for their support and for believing in me. I am grateful that the case was dismissed and that the truth is coming out. No crime was committed. I look forward to the upcoming season."

The Times-Union, through the Freedom of Information Act, obtained video footage of police officers entering the hotel lobby with guns drawn, one officer pepper-spraying the Lewis brothers before handcuffing them and dragging them from the hotel. A police spokesman told the newspaper that officers were reacting to information from a hotel staffer, who told a dispatcher that one of the brothers had a knife and they were trying to break into the hotel – not that they were guests, apparently intoxicated, who'd gotten locked out.

"What you have here is an overreaction on the part of the caller," said Albany County district attorney David Soares.

Before the dismissal, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Monday that Lewis' misadventure wouldn't be held against him in his fight to keep his job as LeSean McCoy's backup.

The Eagles had high expectations for rookie defensive tackle Fletcher Cox after drafting him 12th overall, the highest they have chosen since taking another defensive tackle, Corey Simon, sixth in 2000. Those expectations might have ratcheted up a notch when an Arizona specialist recommended that veteran starter Mike Patterson not participate in training camp because his skull hadn't totally healed from January surgery to fix a tangle of blood vessels on Patterson's brain.

"You just got to go out and compete. I don't think nothing is going to be given to me," Cox said when asked if this might make him a starter. He was speaking Monday after the first rookie walkthrough of Eagles training camp.

Like many of the newcomers to the roster, Cox didn't really know why Patterson wasn't working out with the team in the spring, hadn't heard the story until defensive-line coach Jim Washburn explained the whole thing Sunday.

"Coach Washburn shared the story with the team," Cox said. "It was kind of a sad story . . . People were telling me how guys just got down and started praying for Mike [after Patterson collapsed on the field last Aug. 3]. He's getting better. We'll just keep praying for him and know that he'll be back as soon as possible."

The Eagles cut rookie punter Ryan Tydlacka right before camp, so maybe you figured second-year man Chas Henry, who had his ups and downs as a rookie, wasn't going to have to fight to keep his job. Then four veterans showed up for tryouts yesterday, which kind of shot that theory all to heck.

Brad Maynard, 38, has punted for the Giants, Bears, Texans and Browns. Former Cowboy Mat McBriar, 33, is probably the most accomplished of the bunch, having made the Pro Bowl twice. McBriar was bothered all last season by an injury to his left, plant foot, and was released, though he reportedly will work out for the Cowboys Tuesday. Chris Bryan, 30, is a former Australian Rules player, like McBriar. He's been in a few camps and played for the Bucs. Jason Baker, 34, actually punted for the Eagles in 2002 after Sean Landeta was injured. He also has been a 49er, a Chief, a Colt, a Bronco and a Panther.

CBSSports.com reported that veteran tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, 32, will work out for the Eagles … Rookie Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris missed spring work because his school was on the quarter system, but you couldn't tell it Monday, as Harris stood out in the afternoon practice … Eagles coach Andy Reid successfully walked from the practice field to the dorms at Lehigh Monday, a distance of a couple of miles, very much uphill.