"Throughout his 10-year NFL career, Jamal Lewis has proven that the more he runs the ball, the better he gets.

But Lewis is as bright as he is brutally honest. He understands that as he recovers from a nagging hamstring injury, teaming with Jerome Harrison probably gives the Browns a better overall offensive attack.

Harrison is ''a good back, always has been,'' Lewis said. ''[Harrison's] a smaller back [5-foot-9, 205 pounds], but at the same time, he still can hit it up in there. He's an elusive guy, studies well, is a smart back and very instinctive.''

In his fourth pro season since the Browns drafted him in the fifth round in 2006, Harrison had his first 100-yard rushing game in last week's overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, running for 121 yards on 29 carries.

''I was surprised to see him get 29 carries,'' Lewis said. ''I know how he feels after that, because I've had a few of those in my career. So I just tried to offer him a little advice on how to get back and be ready to roll [Sunday].''

Instead of seeing Harrison as direct competition, Lewis recognizes he and his understudy form a solid one-two punch.

''We offer different running styles because I got him by about 40 pounds,'' said the 5-foot-11, 245-pound Lewis. ''But at the same time, you look around this league and that's what you see - one-two punches, backs that go in and change paces and do different things. I think that's what we can offer.''"