Browns injured RB Lewis was released but remained hopeful for returning

The Cleveland Browns seem to be clearing the team for a healthier season. A couple weeks after releasing reinstated wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth, they also released running back Jamal Lewis, who was placed in injured reserve on Dec. 2 because of post-concussion symptoms. And there was still one year left on Lewis’ contract with the Browns.

To Lewis, being released simply means the end of Cleveland days and the end of his NFL career is still too early to come. One he is cleared o play he will find a job in another NFL team. Lewis remains hopeful for that.

“If Jamal wants to play and he’s cleared to play, I think he’s got a lot of football he can bring to the table to help an organization,” Lewis’ agent, Mitch Frankel said. “He can be a significant contributor to the right organization. Jerome Bettis and some other guys at the end of their careers took on a different role, and I think Jamal can do that.”

The 30-year-old running back is still suffering from headaches and blurred vision, the lingering effect of the concussion he sustained in Browns’ opener against the Minnesota Vikings. He tried best to playing despite the symptoms but eventually had to have examination before being put on injured reserve. However, his career number could still bring him quite a few chances of playing football again in another team’s NFL jerseys. Lewis carried 143 times last year for 500 yards and has rushed for 10,067 yards in his career.

Browns Coach Mangini denied player’s complaint of being overworked

The Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis said Thursday that Coach Eric Mangini was overworking his players, indicating that the coach’s policies should be blamed for Browns losses. As having been expected, his comments gained quite a lot of support from other Browns players.


But the coach did not plan to accept the rant from players and tried to defend the length and intensity of his practices after Lewis had complained that players in Browns jerseys are being worked too hard to play effectively in real games.

“I feel good about the way we practice, the time we practice,” said Mangini, 1-7 in his first season with Cleveland. “Two hours of work on the field is a very reasonable time. The only time that practices are extended is if we don’t execute something the right way.”

Mangini also said he and Lewis had conversation about their differences. After finishing Friday’s workout, Lewis confirmed the conversation and said the media had twisted his comments, which originally were not critical of the coach.