"Browns running back Jamal Lewis is still experiencing symptoms from a concussion he said he suffered in the Sept. 13 opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

Although he was upset during the season that he was sharing time and the Browns didn't commit to the running game, Lewis is now almost grateful that he carried the ball only 143 times, the lowest of his 10-year career.

''Like I told coach Daboll, I wasn't getting a lot of carries and that might have been a good thing, might have been a blessing in disguise. Who knows?'' Lewis said of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Lewis was placed on injured reserve Dec. 2 with post-concussion symptoms. He revealed Sunday that it happened against the Vikings ''when I got knocked out and was lying on the ground and couldn't move.''

Still seeing specialists in Atlanta, Lewis said his initial symptoms were ''headaches, blurred vision, just not being me. Going into games week after week noticing something's not right.''

Lewis, 30, said concussions suffered by quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals about the same time his was diagnosed did not prompt him to seek help.

''That had nothing to do with it,'' he said. ''It was more of mental and me knowing myself and knowing how I am and how I react.''

He admitted that it ''was pretty scary from the start.''

''But talking to different doctors and specialists kind of eases your mind, gives you knowledge about what's going on and how to approach the situation,'' he said. ''[I'm] still having the symptoms. Just trying to get over that and rest as much as possible.''

Lewis announced after a Nov. 1 loss to the Bears in Chicago dropped the Browns to 1-7 that he was retiring, even though he has a year remaining on his contract. He sounded like he was wavering a bit Sunday.

''You just don't know, really, trying to let the concussion symptoms go away and get my head back to where it was and make a decision from there about my future,'' he said. ''First and foremost is get healthy.

''I don't know when I come back over the offseason and sit back and think about things, if this is something I want to pursue or move on in my life. I'm not closing the door on whether I want to pursue it or coach or do whatever. It's a yes, no, maybe so.''

Asked whether he could return to the Browns, Lewis said: ''That's a decision that's not made by me. It's kind of made by them. When I get finished with the rehab, then I can make a decision.''

Lewis said he also attended last week's game against the Oakland Raiders. He brought his son into the locker room after the finale, which completed a four-game winning streak by the Browns."