From the Cleveland Browns:

BROWNS AGREE TO TERMS WITH RB JAMAL LEWIS ON A THREE-YEAR DEAL

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with RB Jamal Lewis through the 2010 season, the club announced today.

Lewis, 5-11 and 245 lbs., finished fifth in the NFL with 1,304 yards rushing last season and also tied for seventh in the league with nine rushing touchdowns. In 2007, Lewis helped propel the Browns rushing attack to rank tenth in the NFL with 118.4 yards per game, the best mark since 1985 when the Browns ranked eighth in the league in rushing.

“I am thankful to the Browns for the opportunity they gave me last year to come out and prove that I was still one of the top running backs in the NFL,” said Lewis. “I feel the future is extremely bright for this team and I’m excited to be a part of it for another three years. I said all year long that I wanted to get a long-term deal done to stay in Cleveland and it looks like with this new contract I will be able to finish my career as a Brown.”

Lewis, 28, had 298 carries for 1,304 yards (4.4 avg.) and nine rushing touchdowns last season and added 30 receptions for 248 yards (8.3 avg.) and two receiving touchdowns. Lewis’ 1,304 yards rushing ranked seventh best in franchise history and his 298 attempts ranked third in team annals. Lewis added five games over 100-yards rushing and became only the 26th running back in NFL history to top 9,000 yards rushing in his career.

“The Browns are pleased that Jamal has decided to continue his career here in Cleveland,” said Phil Savage, Cleveland Browns Senior Vice President and General Manager. “He brings a maturity, toughness and football temperament to the team that is critical to our success on top of the physical abilities that he possesses. Plus, he'll have the opportunity to go over 10,000+ career yards in 2008, which will put him in elite company.”

As I wrote in a previous post, I spent two days this past weekend at Browns training camp.  Here are a few things that I noticed:

- IF Jamal Lewis plays the regular season like he's running at camp, he could be very productive in during the season provided the offensive line gels.  What I saw out of Lewis is a guy hitting holes quickly, without hesitation and the ability to hit the corner with some speed as well.  Then again, it is just training camp.

- Kellen Winslow Jr. looks to be preparing for a HUGE year.  He's hungry yet humble, catching everything in his general direction and doing so, not recklessly, but with full gusto.

- If Braylon Edwards (again see previous post) can learn from Winslow's example, he could have a huge year as well.  Notice that last season K2 (as he's called on the team) kept his mouth shut and let his actions on the field speak for him.  Heed that lesson Braylon.

- The quarterback derby is going to be close.  Even if Brady Quinn gets into camp soon.  Don't think that Quinn is going to start the season against Pittsburgh Sept. 9 if he signs.  The likelihood of that is zero - unless of course he's the second coming of Joe Montana.  Throwing him in against the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals to start the season is akin to sending an army to war not properly equipped.  Please, watch the Iraq War barbs.  Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye look to be locked in a serious battle for Top Gun.

Well actually, Reuben Droughns is heading to the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

In what should come as a surprise to no one, especially given statements made by Jamal Lewis in a teleconference yesterday, the Cleveland Browns shipped Reuben Droughns off to the New York Giants for wide receiver Tim Carter in a trade today.

There was no way that the Browns backfield was going to be big enough for both of those guys.  And it was clear from what Lewis said that certain assurances had been made from the offensive line to what his role on the team would be.  Is there any doubt now that he's being a given a tryout with the possibility of receiving a long-term deal should he return to the form that helped him to rush for more than 2,000 yards several seasons back?

I'm still not on board with his acquisition.  I don't believe he has much left in the tank.  But we shall see.  The Beacon Journal's Pat McManamon wrote a compelling article detailing the repercussions of the move.  If nothing else, it's clear that the Browns have a win-now mentality with the possibility that the job of Head Coach Romeo Crennel and, perhaps, that of G.M. Phil Savage eventually being on the line.

So what did they get for Droughns?  In Carter they have a wideout who played in all 16 games last year but only caught 22 balls with two of those going for touchdowns.  If nothing else, Carter will fill the roster spot open due to the departure of Dennis Northcutt.  Whether his productivity will increase remains to be seen.

“Reuben (Droughns) gave the Browns our first 1,000-yard rusher in 20 years during the 2005 season. We wish him the best of luck in

Here's hoping that familiarity translates to receptions and TDs.  What is apparent is that given last year's disastrous season, the Browns are unwilling to stand pat with the players who occupy their roster.   That in itself is a wise move.

After watching the first half of the Cavs' game at a local Winking Lizard, I got in my car to listen to halftime stuff on their flagship station only to discover that the Browns had reached a deal with now former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis.  How do I contain my enthusiasm?

Normally my gauge of local sports is my favorite watering hole, Scalpers in Mayfield Heights.  I walked in tonight, grumbling about Lewis' acquisition and my Wednesday night bartender Joey D. was ecstatic over the Browns' news.  This is what it's come to - mere desperation.

That's where Cleveland Browns fans are right now.  Lewis rushed for a massive 1132 yards on 314 carries for a whopping 3.6 yards per carry.  Hello!!!! What's mesmerizing about that?  What's significant about it?  The fact that the yards were actually in the positive?

What I like less about this one-year signing is what it possibly portends.  Could the Browns be tipping their hand with respect to the 2007 draft?  If so you can guess what General Manager Phil Savage and his fellow gurus are thinking:

With Lewis we have a viable, touch running back.  There's no need to draft Adrian Peterson out of Oklahoma.  We have a running back, now let's get a quarterback.  What?  You thought Charlie Frye was the answer?  And that's what scares me.

Notre Dame's Brady Quinn has made little secret of his desire to play for the Browns and apparently, after the recent NFL Combine in Indianapolis his stock has been very much on the rise.  Quinn apparently made all the throws and exhibited a wonderful aptitude for the Wonderlic I.Q. test.

My problem?  In big games, he doesn't really show up.  The Ohio State Buckeyes cooked his grits in the Fiesta Bowl more than a year ago and the Louisiana State University Tigers nailed him in this year's Sugar Bowl.  He's got happier feet than those penguins in the movie Happy Feet only it's a less likable feature on him. 

Taking Quinn would be a reach on a team that has far too many other holes than at QB - even with Frye there.