Jamal Lewis News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

February 18

Akron Beacon Journal

"Running back Jamal Lewis gained 1,000 yards in seven of his nine active NFL seasons. If he's considering trying to make it eight, Lewis will have to do it elsewhere. The Browns terminated the contract of Lewis today, the team announced. Lewis, 30 and a 10-year veteran, said after the Nov. 1 game at Chicago that he was playing his final season even though he had a year remaining on his contract. Lewis was placed on injured reserve Dec. 2 with post-concussion symptoms that he said stemmed from a hit during the Sept. 13 opener against the Minnesota Vikings. After the Browns' final game, Lewis sounded like he wasn't sure he was through. ''What I'm hearing from doctors and specialists, it's"

Cleveland Browns release Jamal Lewis

February 18

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Browns cut ties with running back Jamal Lewis Wednesday, but he'd seriously consider playing for a Super Bowl contender in 2010, his agent Mitch Frankel said. The Browns terminated his contract with one year remaining. He was due $2.4 million in base salary and a $1.5 million bonus this season. "Jamal was kind of expecting this to happen, given where the organization is at this time and where he is in his career," said Frankel. "But he would give serious thought to playing again next season if he feels healthy and he has a legitimate shot to go to the Super Bowl. He hasn't won one in 10 years and would like another chance." In a statement from his representatives, Lewis said, "I would"

Lewis still feeling effects of Sept. 13 knockout

January 4

Akron Beacon Journal

"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"

Jamal Lewis returns to root on his teammates, leaves door open for 2010

January 4

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Jamal Lewis, who spoke publicly for the first time Sunday since being placed on injured reserve with concussion syndrome, left the door open to return next season. It was a dramatic turnaround from Nov. 1, when he said he planned to retire after this year. He backed that up a couple of days later, saying he wouldn't change his mind. But Lewis, who's under contract with the Browns through 2010, admitted that he wasn't himself all season after getting knocked out cold in the opener against the Vikings. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with concussion syndrome. He's still seeing specialists in his hometown of Atlanta. "You just don't know, really," he said about his future. "I'm just trying to"

Lewis was Mangini's chance to win over Browns

December 6

Akron Beacon Journal

"Jamal Lewis might be the closest the Browns get to a hall of famer until left tackle Joe Thomas is five years into retirement and hosting a reincarnation of The American Sportsman. But Lewis also represents Browns coach Eric Mangini's biggest failure. Some might suggest receiver Braylon Edwards or tight end Kellen Winslow are more fitting. By Oct. 7, both Winslow and Edwards had been traded, Mangini unwilling to put up with the high-maintenance divas and their off-the-field dramas. Had Mangini tried to salvage one or both of them, he could have proved he'd grown as a coach and learned from being fired by the New York Jets, not to mention kept some reliable pass-catchers around. But Lewis,"

Browns running back Jamal Lewis seeing more brain specialists

December 3

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Browns running back Jamal Lewis was to see more specialists today to determine the cause for apparent brain abnormalities that appeared on a MRI, a source said. Lewis was placed on injured reserve by the Browns on Wednesday night with "post-concussion symptoms," effectively ending his career five games short of the way he envisioned. The source said Lewis had been experiencing headaches for some time and recently had vision problems. Coach Eric Mangini said he was unaware of whether Lewis suffered a blow to the head in what proved to be the last game of his career Sunday in Cincinnati."

It was a good run, Jamal

December 3

Baltimore Sun

"Jamal Lewis was placed on injured reserve by the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday because of post-concussion symptoms, a sad ending not befitting the physical style that defined his great career. He announced earlier this season that he would retire at the end of the season. Lewis remains the Ravens all-time leading rusher and should be a lock for the Ravens Ring of Honor. In my estimation, the Ravens don't win the Super Bowl without two players on offense -- Lewis and tight end Shannon Sharpe. They carried the attack through the playoffs. The Ravens would have been the favorites to repeat in 2001 if Lewis didn't go down with a season-ending knee injury in training camp. When Lewis said he"

Jamal Lewis' career comes to end

December 3

Akron Beacon Journal

"Browns running back Jamal Lewis finished his 10-year career without fanfare, being placed on injured reserve with what the team called ''post-concussion symptoms.'' The news came out of the blue Wednesday, since Browns coach Eric Mangini had said nothing about Lewis being injured in three news conferences since the game Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. But it raised red flags when Lewis was not at practice or in the locker room for media interviews, and there were no street clothes in his locker. Free safety Brodney Pool was also placed on injured reserve with his fourth concussion in five years. ''I'm disappointed that Jamal and Brodney are not going to be able to finish out the"

Concussion ends Jamal Lewis' career, as Cleveland Browns running back goes on injured reserve

December 3

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Jamal Lewis suffered a serious concussion Sunday in Cincinnati and visited a brain trauma specialist on Wednesday, said a source with knowledge of the situation. Lewis, who previously announced this would be his last NFL season, has played his last down of football. He will retire as the 21st leading NFL rusher with 10,607 yards in 131 career games. But Lewis' place on the all-time rushing list is the furthest thing from his mind. A source said that Lewis was "pretty shaken up" when an MRI test showed "brain abnormalities." They may be the result of excessive trauma triggered by a recent hit. More tests will be done to determine the extent of Lewis' injury, the source said. Lewis' last"

Jamal Lewis done for season, probably career

December 3

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Jamal Lewis suffered a serious concussion Sunday in Cincinnati and visited a brain trauma specialist on Wednesday, said a source with knowledge of the situation. Lewis, who previously announced this would be his last NFL season, has played his last down of football. He will retire as the 21st leading NFL rusher with 10,607 yards in 131 career games. But Lewis' place on the all-time rushing list is the furthest thing from his mind. A source said that Lewis was "pretty shaken up" when an MRI test showed "brain abnormalities." They may be the result of excessive trauma triggered by a recent hit. More tests will be done to determine the extent of Lewis' injury, the source said. Lewis' last"

Browns running back Jamal Lewis status in question

December 2

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Running back Jamal Lewis could be the next Browns player shut down for the season. Lewis was not on the field during the period of practice open to the media on Wednesday. He also was not in the locker room prior to practice. There was speculation that Lewis might be placed on injured reserve. If so, it would end his career unceremoniously, as he already has said this would be his last season in the NFL. The Browns had no immediate answers to inquiries about Lewis' status. A team spokesman said if Lewis misses practice, his status would be addressed on the team's official injury report at 4 p.m."

Jamal Lewis tees off on Eric Mangini's practice regimen

November 13

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Everybody says the Browns work hard under coach Eric Mangini. Jamal Lewis is the first player to say they work too hard to win. "The talent is there. There's talent all over this room, young and old," Lewis said of the 1-7 team. "At the same time, that talent's got to be able to be ready for Sunday and to be fresh for Sunday and be ready to go out and be efficient on Sunday. "You can work hard as you want. You can work all day, seven days a week all the way up to Sunday in practice. But at the same time, if you're going to work like that, then maybe on Sunday you're probably not going to get what you want out of your players." Lewis' comments were a stinging indictment of Mangini's"

Lewis lambasts Mangini

November 13

Akron Beacon Journal

"During his 10-year career, running back Jamal Lewis has never been afraid to speak his mind. Yet the Browns' co-captain refuses to march into coach Eric Mangini's office with his complaints, even though he's fuming over Mangini's long, physical practices that he believes are wearing out the players before game day arrives. Instead, Lewis turned to the media Thursday with an oddly timed rant blasting Mangini and his methods. ''Hey, this is his show, it's not mine. Not anybody else around here's show,'' said Lewis, an Atlanta native. ''We're just the crop. You've got to take care of your crop. If you don't take care of your crop, when it comes time to harvest, you're not going to make no"

Jamal Lewis will consider himself a Raven at retirement

November 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Jamal Lewis said on a Ravens conference call Wednesday that he's retiring "just because I'm tired of it, tired of it and that was my goal, and that's all I wanted. So, time to move on." The Browns running back re-iterated that he "made that decision before the season even started." He admitted that Monday night's game -- his last against his former Ravens -- will be special. "Oh yeah, most definitely," he said. "That will be a great one. Being that I will be playing these guys for the last time, being able to suit up against Ray [Lewis] for the last time, it's a good thing. It will be a memorable moment." He said he'll look back at himself as a Raven as opposed to a Raven and a Brown."

Jamal Lewis still plans to call it quits at season's end

November 6

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Bye weeks can be tough on coaches and GMs whose teams are floundering. But for players, a week without a game can be a relaxing tonic. Such is the case with running back Jamal Lewis. He returned to his locker Wednesday after tending to personal business in Atlanta. With the news-starved media horde anticipating more juice from perhaps the most respected man in the locker room, Lewis was in a reflective mood. After the game in Chicago, Lewis was so upset with yet another pathetic team performance that he declared this would be his last NFL season. Wednesday, he said he had planning to retire, anyway."

With air game grounded, a churning Jamal Lewis keeps the offense moving

October 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Imagine if Jamal Lewis had been healthy. Coming off a pulled hamstring that caused him to miss two games, Lewis rushed for 117 yards on 31 carries in Sunday's 6-3 victory over Buffalo. It was his first 100-yard game since Dec. 30, 2007 against the 49ers (26 carries for 128) and the Browns improved to 12-3 in games in which Lewis has 20 or more carries. Lewis got stronger as the game went on, rushing for 67 yards in the second half, including runs of 18, 10 and 10 yards. The last one converted a third and 9 and allowed the final field goal drive to eat up more time. "It was great," said Lewis. "That's the type of football I'm used to playing. Grinding it out, time of possession and"

Lewis keeps Browns moving with 117 yards

October 12

Akron Beacon Journal

"Jamal Lewis had fresh legs, thanks to two weeks off with a hamstring injury. So when gusty winds played havoc with the Browns' passing attack and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll elected to keep handing the ball to the 30-year-old, 10-year veteran, Lewis was all smiles. ''It was great,'' Lewis said. ''That's the type of football I'm used to playing. Grinding it out, time of possession and keeping the chains moving.'' Lewis rushed for 117 yards on 31 carries as the Browns snapped a 10-game losing streak with an ugly 6-3 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Lewis picked up 67 of the Browns' 74 rushing yards in the second half and got all but three of their 20"

Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and kicker Phil Dawson doubtful

October 9

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and kicker Phil Dawson sat out today's practice with injuries and are doubtful for Sunday's game in Buffalo. Jackson (hamstring) sat out both Thursday and Friday, and Dawson (right calf), who hasn't been seen in Berea for several weeks, missed the entire week. Billy Cundiff will most likely replace Dawson for the third straight week and rookie linebacker David Veikune could start in place of Jackson."

Jamal Lewis doesn't see Harrison as competition

October 9

Akron Beacon Journal

"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"

Lewis will be inactive for Browns

October 4

NFL.com

"NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports Browns RB Jamal Lewis will be inactive for today's game against the Bengals, according to a league source. Lewis has been battling a hamstring injury and was listed as doubtful for today's game. The Browns are dangerously thin in the backfield after placing rookie RB James Davis on season-ending injured reserve Saturday, a move that leaves Jerome Harrison as the only experienced back on the roster. The Browns also signed rookie RB Chris Jennings to the active roster from the practice squad."

Decade-long rivalry pits Lewis against Taylor again

October 2

Baltimore Sun

"Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis and New England Patriots running back Fred Taylor need no introductions. From 1998 through 2001, they regularly bumped heads when the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Ravens both played in the old AFC Central. In the early days, the Jaguars would torture the Ravens' defense with quarterback Mark Brunell and receivers Keenan McCardell, Jimmy Smith and Taylor. It wasn't until 2000 that the Ravens started to turn the series around. But Lewis hasn't forgotten Taylor. In six career games against the Ravens while with Jacksonville, Taylor rushed for 510 yards, gaining 4.4 yards a carry. Taylor had two big games against the Ravens in 1998 and one in 2002. Taylor"

Browns not counting out Jamal Lewis and Phil Dawson for Sunday's game

October 1

Cleveland Plain Dealer

""Cautiously optimistic" is the way Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini described his hopes of seeing running back Jamal Lewis and kicker Phil Dawson back in action Sunday against Cincinnati. "I think with all those guys it'll come down to the end of the week to see where they are," Mangini said. Lewis (hamstring) and Dawson (groin) missed the Baltimore game and the first two practices for Cincinnati. Lewis worked on the stationary bike with a trainer today. Dawson was not on the field. Lewis said before practice that he was taking it "day by day." Dawson hasn't appeared in the locker room the last two days. Guard Floyd Womack (ankle) and guard Rex Hadnot were not on the practice field"

Lewis and Dawson might miss Bengals game, too

October 1

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Browns might have to play their second straight division game without running back Jamal Lewis or kicker Phil Dawson. Both were idle again Wednesday after missing Sunday's game in Baltimore -- Lewis with a hamstring injury and Dawson with a right calf injury. In addition, right guard Floyd Womack (ankle) and starting left defensive end Kenyon Coleman (groin) did not participate. "I'm just doing everything the trainers are asking me to do," Coleman said. "I'm trying to get better, day to day, and we'll see how it goes." He said he hurt it early in the Denver game, "but I tried not to make it obvious. At least I did let the coach know." In Lewis' absence, Jerome Harrison was one of"

Jamal Lewis, Phil Dawson among the Browns sidelined for Ravens

September 27

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A daunting offensive challenge for the Cleveland Browns became officially all the more difficult early Saturday evening when the team announced its list of players declared out for Sunday's game due to injury. On the list were running back Jamal Lewis (hamstring), kicker Phil Dawson (right calf) along with offensive linemen Rex Hadnot (knee) and Floyd Womack (ankle). Baltimore safety Ed Reed was listed as questionable on Friday. To step in for Dawson, the Browns signed free agent Billy Cundiff, and waived running back Cedric Peerman. Cundiff was originally signed by Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and spent four seasons (2002-05) with the Cowboys. He spent a portion of the 2006"

Browns might be without Phil Dawson, Jamal Lewis

September 26

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Browns might have to face the Ravens Sunday without two of their best offensive weapons: running back Jamal Lewis and kicker Phil Dawson. Lewis is doubtful to face his former team with a hamstring injury suffered last week in Denver, meaning there's only a 25 percent chance he'll play. He hasn't practiced all week, including Friday's final full workout before the game. If he can't go, he'll be replaced by the combination of Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis. Dawson was added to the injury report on Friday as questionable with a right calf injury, meaning there's a 50-50 chance he'll play. He was limited in practice and afterward the Browns worked out four free-agents kickers,"

Harrison takes reps, Lewis nurses injury

September 25

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Jamal Lewis missed his second day of practice with a hamstring injury on Thursday. In his place, Jerome Harrison took reps with the first team. Harrison, who missed most of preseason with a knee injury, was not on the Browns' injury report. James Davis (shoulder) had full participation for the second day in a row. Lewis has rushed for 100 yards or more against 18 teams in his nine NFL seasons. Baltimore, his former team, is not one of them. Since joining the Browns, Lewis has a high of 92 yards rushing against the Ravens. In four meetings, he has averaged 3.4 yards a rush, gaining 261 yards in 76 attempts. You have to wonder if this could be Lewis' last visit to Baltimore wearing a"

Hamstring injury idles Jamal Lewis; Davis and Harrison may face Ravens

September 24

Baltimore Sun

"The Browns face a frightening prospect Sunday in Baltimore: What if running back Jamal Lewis is unable to go against his former team and their top-ranked run defense? Lewis suffered a hamstring injury in Denver, although it wasn't known until the injury report came out Wednesday afternoon. He sat out Wednesday's practice and will likely be listed as questionable when the designations are released on Friday. Surely, Lewis will do everything possible to play against his former team. But if he can't go, rookie running back James Davis and Jerome Harrison, who've combined for 13 yards on seven carries, will share the load. Davis, who was inactive in Denver with a shoulder injury, was back"

Jamal Lewis sidelined

September 24

Akron Beacon Journal

"Browns veteran running back Jamal Lewis did not practice with the team Wednesday, and was later listed on the injury report with a hamstring injury. Before practice, he strolled through the locker room wearing a gray Browns' sweatshirt while his teammates got dressed in preparation for practice. Running back James Davis, who was inactive last week after suffering a shoulder injury in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings, participated in Wednesday's practice. Lewis appeared on the injury report last week after suffering a neck stinger against the Vikings. In the game against the Vikings, he rushed 11 times for 57 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry against a defense that has led the"

Hamstring injury forces Jamal Lewis to miss Cleveland Browns practice

September 24

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Browns face a frightening prospect Sunday in Baltimore: What if running back Jamal Lewis is unable to go against his former team and their top-ranked run defense? Lewis suffered a hamstring injury in Denver, although it wasn't known until the injury report came out Wednesday afternoon. He sat out Wednesday's practice and will likely be listed as questionable when the designations are released Friday. But if Lewis can't play, rookie running back James Davis and Jerome Harrison, who've combined for 13 yards on seven carries, will share the load. Davis, who was inactive in Denver with a shoulder injury, was back full-go in practice Wednesday and will be ready to play. But he struggled in"

Lewis takes the ball, shows protege how game is played

September 19

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Browns' season opener against Minnesota showed that running back Jamal Lewis still has it and that his rookie protege James Davis is still trying to get it. During the preseason, Jamal Lewis turned 30, averaged only 2.6 yards per carry and was described as slow and plodding by his critics. A day before the final cuts, rumors began that he might be cut. Instead, he faced the NFL's best run defense and averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 11 carries for 57 yards. He also caught all three passes thrown his way for 47 yards, including one for 19 yards. "I said last week that he had a pretty good week of practice," said offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. "He's had another good week of"

RB Jamal Lewis on the chopping block?

September 5

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Could Browns running back Jamal Lewis be cut Saturday when the Browns trim their roster to 53? League sources said rumblings began a couple of days ago that Lewis, who turned 30 last week, could be one of the dozen players the Browns let go, and espn.com's Adam Schefter Friday put Lewis at the top of his list of big-name players on the bubble. Nationalfootballpost.com's Mike Lombardi also speculated Lewis will be cut. Question is, would the Browns release a player after giving him a $3.5 million roster bonus in March? Would they put the ball in the hands of rookie running back James Davis? And what about Jerome Harrison, still recovering from a left knee injury? "Nobody has told us"

We'll play to win, Harbaugh says

December 23

Baltimore Sun

"The Ravens might clinch the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC before they take the field Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M"

Jamal Lewis reaches 10,000-yard rushing club

December 22

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Not even joining the elite 10,000-yard club was enough to ease the sting of the worst season Jamal Lewis has endured in his nine-year career. "Oh yeah, it's the worst season that I've ever played in, honestly," said Lewis, who during the 14-0 loss to the Bengals became the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards. "It's the toughest season ever. Due to circumstances, this wasn't the season that everybody wanted. But we didn't come out here and throw games and just lay down. We fought hard, but it wasn't enough." Lewis said he derives no real joy from reaching 10,000, which he accomplished on an 8-yard run in the third quarter. "It doesn't mean anything to me, honestly,""

Lewis braces for Titanic test

December 3

Tennessean

"As Cleveland's featured running back, Jamal Lewis will certainly have some adjustments to make when the Browns start yet another quarterback this Sunday. Yet he has something bigger - much bigger - to worry about when the Browns (4-8) visit LP Field to take on the Titans (11-1). "Albert Haynesworth," Lewis said Wednesday during a conference call with Nashville media. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Haynesworth and his fellow Titans defensive linemen haven't been kind to Lewis over the years, keeping him under 100 yards in each of the last seven meetings, all when he still played for the Ravens. In the last three meetings he's averaged just 2.2 yards per carry. Lewis, who was Haynesworth's teammate"

Lewis taken aback by decreased role in Browns offense

November 24

Akron Beacon Journal

"Despite a 16-6 loss to the Houston Texans, Browns running back Jamal Lewis wasn't calling anybody out in the locker room after Sunday's game. Considering he committed one of the Browns' five turnovers and was partially involved in another, Lewis took as much of the blame for the loss as anybody. Lewis fumbled on the Browns' first possession of the game after being tackled by cornerback Jacques Reeves on a short pass from Brady Quinn. After Reeves knocked the ball loose, linebacker DeMeco Ryans pounced on it. Lewis admitted it was ''bad ball handling'' on his part and that he should have held the ball ''high and tight.'' The secondin the fourth quarter was a little more ambiguous and was"

Lewis taken aback by decreased role in Browns offense

November 24

Akron Beacon Journal

"Despite a 16-6 loss to the Houston Texans, Browns running back Jamal Lewis wasn't calling anybody out in the locker room after Sunday's game. Considering he committed one of the Browns' five turnovers and was partially involved in another, Lewis took as much of the blame for the loss as anybody. Lewis fumbled on the Browns' first possession of the game after being tackled by cornerback Jacques Reeves on a short pass from Brady Quinn. After Reeves knocked the ball loose, linebacker DeMeco Ryans pounced on it. Lewis admitted it was ''bad ball handling'' on his part and that he should have held the ball ''high and tight.'' The secondin the fourth quarter was a little more ambiguous and was"

Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis questions play-calling

November 24

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Running back Jamal Lewis, who ran only 10 times but averaged 5.8 yards, questioned offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's play-calling again. He tried to be diplomatic but made it perfectly clear he's at philosophical odds with Chudzinski. "You see it for yourself," Lewis said. "The worst thing about it is how you prepare. You prepare to come out here and do your job and be the best you can be. Then, the most disturbing thing is when you're not really able to get out there and put that stuff to work on the field. You do all you can do, and then it's just put to rest come game time." Lewis said the play-calling leaves him "confused, but I just try to make the best of a bad situation and"

Jamal Lewis rips some teammates

November 8

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A frustrated Jamal Lewis ripped some of his Browns teammates after the 34-30 loss to Denver for quitting while they were ahead in the third quarter Thursday. "This is the NFL, you can't call it quits until the game is over," the running back said. "But it looks to me like some people called it quits before that. Denver was down, but they didn't call it quits. They kept their heads up and they finished. We didn't do that two weeks in a row -- at home." Without naming names, Lewis said: "Some people need to check their egos at the door and find some heart to come out here and play hard. This is a man's game. The way we went out there and played two weeks in a row, finishing the same kind"

A leaner Jamal Lewis shapes up for big season

July 29

Akron Beacon Journal

columnist Patrick McManamon

"Jamal Lewis ran 1,304 yards last season when his playing weight was listed at 245 pounds. So what did he do in the offseason? He dieted and lost weight so he could report to the Browns training camp at the lightest he has been since he was a junior at the University of Tennessee. Want to question that decision? You're allowed; it is America, after all. But nobody on the Browns seems to know himself better than Lewis, and nobody takes as professional an approach to preparation and readiness for the season. Consider Lewis' thinking for coming to camp at 237 pounds - a loss that is noticeable. ''Knowing the scheme that we're going to run here and the runs that we run . . . there are a lot of"