May 23, 2013

Report: Jamal Lewis to Retire at Season’s End

November 2, 2009 by 26 Comments

jamal-lewis-browns-campIt appears that one of the worst offensive units in football could be looking for a running back this offseason as veteran Jamal Lewis claims that this very well could be his last year in the NFL.  Following another drubbing – this time at the hands of the Chicago Bears – Lewis had the following to say to reporters:

“It is very hard,” he said. “Very. I think this is my last year. I think this is it. Honestly, the way it looks, you know, I had a good run.”

Lewis acknowledged that finishing with the Browns stuck in a miserable season is not the easiest way to go out.

“But at the same time, I stuck my neck out and wanted to come in and help and do what I could do, even though I knew the consequences,” he said. “I knew what we had and what was going to go with it, being that you do have new people coming in, new coaches, new staff, and all that — there’s a lot that comes with that.”

When asked if these words could be a product of another loss that brings out more emotion than reality, Lewis countered.

“When I talk, I mean what I say and I think you all know that.”

There is no denying the fact that things have not exactly been roses for Lewis since the 2007 season where everything clicked for the Browns.  He has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark seven times and may be more known for his runs against the Browns than those while wearing the Cleveland uniform.  Many felt that Lewis may not have much left in the tank as it is, so if he were to stick to his words, it would not be much of a surprise.

On a Browns team that is rebuilding from the top down, there is little place for a back of Lewis’ nature aside from the potential leadership role.  This would leave the Browns with rookie back James Davis along with situational back Jerome Harrison as the team heads into the free agency period as well as the 2010 NFL Draft – just over 120 days away.

Free agent running backs include Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams and Pierre Thomas among others.  Clemson’s CJ Spiller is widely considered the best senior running back at the collegiate level, but would require a mid-first round selection at the very least.  Charles Scott (LSU), Chris Brown (Oklahoma), and Ben Tate (Auburn) would likely also garner some attention.

We constantly hear that a good running game sets up the passing game.  And with both portions of the Browns offense being a disaster, and a vast portion of team payroll being spent on the offensive line, not addressing the running back between now and next spring would be a huge blow to any sort of progress of a team that is on pace to barely eclipse the 150-point mark for the 2009 season.

–

Jamal Lewis plans to retire after season [Associated Press]

–

(image via Flickr)

Related Posts

Zemanta
Filed Under: Browns Tagged With: , , , , ,
  • Isis

    This should have been OBVIOUS and flushed out PRIOR to the season. Want to talk about how many impacts RB’s went in the first several rounds of the draft? Oberve.

  • ben

    IDK what people say, I liked having him here. It’s time to retire, but I’m glad we had him as terrible as we’ve been.

  • Oppie

    Not real surprised about this. He’s obviously hit the wall that any starting RB hits during their career. He’s significantly lost a step or 2 and I can see him walking away before he’s turned away by team after team, especially with how he’s played this season.

    I would like to see the Browns grab a RB in the 2nd Rd. With many underclassmen supposedly coming out this year to avoid the potential rookie salary cap, there should be some decent RBs in the 2nd or 3rd Rd. I’d love to get Best from Cal, but he’ll probably be gone in the 1st. Still wish the Browns would have grabbed Lesean McCoy (instead of Robo) when they had the chance last year.

  • Swig

    IF i CAPITALIZE every OTHER word, DOES that MEAN i’m ONLY half SARCASTIC?

  • S-Dub

    Anyone not talking about taking Ingram is insane. Best is over rated and probably not any better than Marshawn Lynch, which isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. Ingram is the guy we need in the draft, unless we throw tons of money at Ronnie Brown, which is a good idea.

    @Isis: The rookie RB’s that were taken this year and are having “good” years are all on playoff contending teams. Wells, Donald Brown, McCoy, Glen Coffee, Shaun Greene (whom I advocated for in Rd. 3), and Knowshon Moreno. OBSERVE….

  • nullster

    Technically S-Dub he asked us to OBVERVE …. which I think we all should do

  • Andrew S

    Ingram is a sophomore and isnt eligible for the draft yet.

  • Oppie

    I would love to get Ingram, but as Andrew said, he’s a sophomore.

    Best isn’t the same type of RB as Lynch b/c he’s a speed guy not a bruiser. The guy is a speedster and more similar to a Chris Johnson type. He ran a 10.31 100m (faster than Johnson’s best) in high school and has only gotten faster. Johnson is a gamebreaker and Best has the ability to be the same type of player, which is something the Browns don’t have. I’d love to get Ronnie Brown, but there’s no way he comes here over another team.

  • Isis

    Why aren’t any of you demanding that your “GM” grab a freakin’ microphone and say two words? It’s halfway though the season and your “GM” hasn’t said one iota of anything to you.

    When are you going to wake up and see what’s BEEN going on all around you? Observe.

  • S-Dub

    I thought Ingram was a Junior, my apologies. IF he was eligible, he’d have to be our guy. Cadillac is a guy we could take a flyer on though.

    Isis your screaming and bantering had nothing to do with my confronting you about our RB situation. Any Response? Or, are you going to just Drew Rosenhaus us and go no comment while T.O. does sit-ups?

  • TBrown

    Honestly, this is not so much news. I don’t know if anyone really expected Jamal to be here next year, though I echo some of the comments above in that I am grateful he was here for a time. And, if nothing else, running back is one of the easiest holes to fill on draft day; a 2nd or 3rd rounder should be enough to get a quality starter and potential game-breaker. We’ll need that first rounder somewhere else . . .

  • B-bo

    Lewis was servicable for most of his tenure here, but it’s time for him to go.

    Build from the lines out–there’s isn’t a RB in college today who’s going to excel behind the line we have presently. Even with a promising d-line showing yesterday, we still need both talent and depth there.

    The owner is doing what he’s been criticized for failing to do in the past and is addressing the fans. The fact that the GM isn’t means very little to me, especially since we were all quite aware from the beginning that it was Mangini who would have real power over the roster, assistants, etc. I’m hoping the GM is focused on finding and evaluating talent and looking into what FAs will be available, in the event that this regime is still around in 2010.

  • TBrown

    @12

    No. No more line-building. Our line is built, with the exception of a right tackle (which we should be able to pick up fairly easily with a 3rd rounder or in free agency). At this point, we need skill players who can make plays. Give me a serious wideout or TE threat. Or, on defense, a ball-hawk of a DB or a stud linebacker. Our lines are actually not bad, but we have very few weapons downfield or game-breakers in the secondary. Believe me, our lines would look 10X better if there was help somewhere else on the field.

  • B-bo

    If this is what a finished line looks like, I’d hate to see the alternative! The right side is essentially a welcome mat to the backfield, and the d-line is a Shaun Rogers injury from becoming tissue paper. All the skill players in the world aren’t going to help matters–unless they all stay in to block

  • S-Dub

    It’s never time to stop building both lines. But, Taylor Mays, Brandon Spikes, etc. are theg usy we need to target in rounds 1 and 2.

  • S-Dub

    It’s never time to stop building both lines. But, Taylor Mays, Brandon Spikes, etc. are the guys we need to target in rounds 1 and 2.

  • Alex

    RE the d-line: we can have the best d-line in the world and it won’t matter if there’s nobody behind them. Witness, well, just about every game. If we get pressure, the other team can throw a quick screen or short route to a receiver and said player can take it for a huge gain, because our linebackers and secondary can’t or won’t tackle and don’t have good enough instincts to sniff the play out. We need a playmaker in the secondary and in the linebacking corps something awful, and I don’t just mean someone who can rush from the edge. What we DON’T need to do is spend a high first-round pick on an offensive lineman. Teams everywhere prove that you can pick up help for the right side especially later in the draft. The top o-line players taken are on the left side. We can get a good right tackle significantly later than it would take to get a good left tackle.

  • Jay

    We already have a rookie RB that we don’t know how good he can be. Plus Harrison, so I say Ronnie Brown. You have to throw half of Cleveland’s net worth at him for him to come here, but it’d be worth it. (Think Cribbs AND Brown in a Wildcat/Flash package.) Draft a CB or Saftey with the first rounder, then work your other need areas.

  • TBrown

    Ok, I amend: no more line-building with top picks and big $ free agents. I pointed out that I was ok with using a 3rd rounder (or so) on the line, but we need skill guys in the worst way. Linemen don’t score touchdowns or break up passing plays, and we need serious improvement in those two areas.

  • P@

    Yep… Taylor Mays is my favorite player for us to target in the first round. The guy is gigantic, but at the same time, absurdly fast with ball-hawking instincts. But really, our team needs so much help that I don’t think I’ll be upset with any pick except a center, nose tackle, or tight end (I hate taking tight ends in the first round unless they are the next Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates and block almost as well as they catch… TE’s are supposed to be able to block, K2).

  • B-bo

    Jay, I like the Cribbs/Brown combo idea, but does it come with an OC willing to get creative and adjust to the talent?

    TBrown, I feel like the 2-4 rounds are the place to get quality skill players without a huge financial risk. Regardless of where we get them, though, they have to be considered a priority for this team.

    Alex, I would be all about a Mays or Berry for the kind of support behind the lines you are talking about.

  • Omega King

    I honestly can’t tell which is more obnoxious out of Isis: “Book it” or “Observe”.

  • http://clevelandsaplum.com alexa – cleveland’s a plum

    how is this honestly a surprise to anyone? wasn’t there brief discussion of him retiring in ’07 after he was released from the ravens?

    OR, i could be completely wrong as i am a woman trying to talk about sports here.

  • Hot Toluene

    I don’t like the thought of the Browns throwing big money at the free agents available this year. Of all the free agent backs in the past few years who have made a big positive role on their team? I can think of Thomas Jones, but that was moving to an awesome line on the Jets, and Michael Turner, but he’s been having a harder time this year with more attention on him.
    Julius Jones, Derrick Ward, Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, and Dominic Rhodes the last few seasons haven’t exactly worked out as planned for all the money they were paid.
    Bottom line, the running game needs to be built through the draft, maybe not in the first round, but just taking fliers on guys in the 6th and 7th isn’t gonna cut it anymore.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP Diesel

    Rhetorical Question Time:

    Why is Kokinis “our” GM and not Isis’s? Like it or not, dude, if you’re a fan of the Browns (and honestly, I’m not sure if you are or not…), he’s YOUR GM too.

    As for line building: I would be OK with a 3rd rounder on the right tackle spot. There are enough options (with Hadnot back) to at least keep RG warm for a year or two.

    On defense, the line isn’t as important as the linebackers. We have the most important line spot filled with Rogers, and Rubin hasn’t looked God-awful in his place when SR is getting a breather. You need space-eaters on the line there; you need PLAYMAKERS in the LB corps if you’re going to run a 3-4.

  • ben

    HE’S NOT MY GM/COACH! I DIDN’T VOTE FOR HIM!

  • Pingback: Jamal Lewis Placed on Injured Reserve | WaitingForNextYear