Ravens' Lewis pleads innocent to drug charges

ATLANTA -- Star NFL running back Jamal Lewis pleaded innocent Thursday to federal drug charges that he tried to help a childhood friend buy cocaine in the summer of 2000.

The Baltimore Ravens' player was released on $500,000 bond after a 15-minute hearing in federal magistrate court. Lewis didn't speak during the hearing, other than answering "yes" when asked by the judge and the U.S. attorney if he understood his rights and his plea.

Last year, he became the fifth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. His 2,066 yards fell short of Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105 yards in the final game. He was the AP's Offensive Player of the Year.

In November 2001, he was suspended for four games after violating the NFL's substance and alcohol abuse policy for the second time. The league did not disclose the details of the violation, in keeping with its policy.