Happy days for Jamal
By Marla RidenourBrowns running back Jamal Lewis may be playing on a one-year contract and sharing snaps with Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison, but he couldn't seem more upbeat.
Part of the reason has to be his relief to be out of Baltimore. His old team was drubbed 38-7 by Pittsburgh on Monday night to fall to 4-4. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has drawn headlines for his criticism of coach Brian Billick's offense, but Jamal Lewis has been saying the same things since he arrived in Cleveland. (Ray Lewis also made similar remarks on a conference call with Ohio media before the Sept. 30 game.)
But Jamal Lewis also sounds happy about the choice he made to sign with Cleveland.
Asked how the chemistry compares to Baltimore, Lewis said, "It's way, way, way, way, way better on offense. We're clicking on all phases. We're running the ball well, we're throwing the ball well and we're putting up points. I've never put up this many points ever in a season, probably since college. I love it. I'm happy in this system, I'm happy with what we're doing.
"Everybody's playing together and has the will to win. We know we can execute the plays the offensive coordinator is putting in."
Lewis said he can see the confidence growing in the huddle.
"From everybody, from wide receivers to the offensive line. Everybody is pretty much confident in the huddle that we can make plays and get things done," he said.
He practically gushed about the Browns' offensive line, even though he played with a likely Hall of Famer in Baltimore's Jonathan Ogden.
"This line is younger, faster, they amaze me every time I get in the huddle because they're like, 'Let's go, let's go get these yards,"' Lewis said. "They're a great group of guys and they all have the will to fight and the will to win. I love to get behind them. I'm happy running behind this offensive line. They're young, they're motivated and they're ready to go."
Lewis also seemed nonchalant about losing his NFL single-game rushing record to Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson last weekend. Peterson dashed for 296 yards against San Diego, breaking Lewis' mark of 295 set against Cleveland on Sept. 14, 2003.ΒΆ
"I thought eventually it would be broken because it wasn't actually out of reach," Lewis said. "At least a guy I really respect got it.
"He probably could have gone for more yards. He got started late. You can only imagine if he'd gotten cranked up in the first half."
Lewis was nostalgic about his big day, saying he could have gotten 350 because he was on such a roll. But he plans to contact Peterson to congratulate him, even though he had Peterson's number in his old cell phone and is still trying to track him down.
"I'll touch base sometime," Lewis said.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:25 am
As long as he doesn't use the cell phone with all the dope deal contacts in it………
November 9th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
The team's doing well, but he still only ran for 37 yards…
November 9th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
oh, for pity's sake, harrison35. lewis ran for the 37 yards — and four touchdowns! — that made the difference in the game, and instead of complaining that he didn't get more chances he's thrilled that the team won. this is the kind of team attitude you want, not something to complain about. braylon edwards didn't catch any touchdown passes, now that i think of it. was he a disappointment last week too? what on earth would satisfy you?
November 12th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Amen Skyler,
Words of wisdom
November 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I'm not saying that the 4 touchdowns weren't important they won the game. But what about pittsburgh we could've used touchdowns that game and more than 35 yards. I look at the bigger picture we need rushing yards all 16 games! Heck Holmes had more yards and he hasn't played in 2 years. Lewis is great in the open field and at the goalline, but we could have used those yards in the plays that went 3 and out and gave the ball back to Pittsburgh as they walked over our last place defense.