Lewis has always maintained he was only trying break up the fight that night in Atlanta.
Speaking at length for the first time about the incident, he said: "I don't blame the families of the victims for being angry at me. How can they not be, when the prosecutor is saying I'm the ringleader, making me the centre of attention?
"I've never had a knife in my life. And, with the Lord as my witness, I was trying to stop all those clowns from fighting. I pour my heart out to those families. I really do."
His club and team-mates supported Lewis throughout while he maintained his innocence, but he became the face of what many in America perceived as the brash, overpaid new generation of American footballers.
Tales of his Super Bowl partying, the stretch limousines, fur coats, flash jewellery and star-struck women were rife. He was the bad boy of the game until proven innocent. He has come through it stronger and an even better player. He is this season's NFL defensive player of the year and this season should make that Pro Bowl date in Hawaii.
Everyone here expects him to be wearing a Super Bowl winners' ring come Sunday night with the Ravens favourites to beat the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium.
Lewis walked out of the Atlanta courtroom angry with his prosecutors, the media and the public for condemning him before they had listened to the evidence, but he channelled that anger into a post-season fitness drive that ensured he was lean and mean this term.
He has also benefited from his friendship with team-mate Rod Woodson and the understanding he has forged with another Raven, Shannon Sharpe. The pair have become his minders.
Woodson, who is destined for a place in the NFL's Hall of Fame, was one of Lewis's boyhood idols. There's a 10-year age difference but the two became friends and were due to meet up in Honolulu after the Atlanta Super Bowl, prior to them playing in the Pro Bowl.
When Woodson found out that Lewis had been arrested he offered to be a character witness and to put up bail money.
Sharpe is another senior player, seven years older than Lewis, who has had a positive influence.
Between him and Woodson, they have 15 Pro Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl visits, Sharpe joining the Ravens as a free agent after back-to-back Super Bowl wins with the Denver Broncos.
The two of them have kept a watchful eye on Lewis this season. Sharpe gave Lewis the keys to his house, use of his cars and during the trial and, when Lewis needed money, Sharpe came up with $20,000 the morning after Lewis asked for it.
Because of the curfew ordered by the court, Lewis doesn't go out so Woodson visits some evenings to keep him company, play pool and talk.
Ravens head coach Brian Bil-lick said: "It's a troika you would never imagine or orchestrate, but, if you think about it, it makes sense.
"The three of them are Pro Bowlers and unique players. They can relate to each other the way less-talented players can't. Why do movie stars marry other movie stars?"
Lewis has been repaying the two men's and the club's loyalty all season. The final payment is due here on Sunday, at the Giants' expense.
