DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Lewis on Cover of Sports Illustrated.... Article/Main Site

Cover boy Lewis feeling good
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
08.01.2007
Jamal Lewis has rushed for 7,801 yards in his career, scored 47 touchdowns, rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season, owns the NFL's single-game rushing record, has been elected to the Pro Bowl, and played for a Super Bowl championship team.

But as of tomorrow, he'll have a new distinction to his name he never had before:

Sports Illustrated cover boy.

Despite all of Lewis' accolades he earned as a long-time member of the Baltimore Ravens, the running back never graced the cover of sports' most renowned magazine until now.

Wednesday after receiving the news, he said it's a testament to his new team -- the Cleveland Browns -- and the moves they made towards improvement during the 2007 offseason.

"It's a great accomplishment," Lewis said. "But I think it does more to expose the Browns more than myself and puts this team out there to let them know we're coming and that we're going to be a threat this year."

Lewis has looked fast and strong so far during training camp practices, leaving many to wonder where several national writers got the idea he was no longer capable of serving as a feature back in the NFL.

He had surgery in the winter to remove bone spurs from his ankle, but said thanks to the procedure he's now making cuts he hasn't made in a long time.

According to his new teammates and coaches, if he's really out of gas they haven't noticed.

"He's been out there every day and hasn't missed a beat," head coach Romeo Crennel said. "Everybody is saying how old he is and how he's lost a step and isn't what he used to be but he's been doing it and lining up and taking the reps."

Veteran receiver Joe Jurevicius, who has played with the likes of Shaun Alexander and Tiki Barber during his career, added. "He's a guy that can bang into people, but he's also a guy that once he turns the corner and gets a block, you're going to have a hard time getting him down.

"He's a Pro Bowler who brings tenacity to our backfield and that's a good thing."

Lewis, meanwhile, has been equally impressed with his teammates. He said general manager Phil Savage's dedication to improving the offensive line was a big part of why he chose to sign with the Browns and is why he is as excited as he is now.

The club signed free agent guard Eric Steinbach from the Bengals and re-signed center Hank Fraley five days before Lewis signed with the club. A month and a half later, the team drafted tackle Joe Thomas third overall.

Now he's working behind an offensive line that, even without Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley, has more talent and ability than any line the team has had since returning to the NFL in 1999.

"They look magnificent," Lewis said. "I haven't seen a line like that in a long time. There are some holes in there and some running room so...I congratulate the organization for putting together a good group."

His gratitude for general manager Phil Savage doesn't end with appreciation for assembling a line to blockfor him. He has repeatedly expressed appreciation towards Savage for bringing him in and allowing him to prove to the league he still has top-level ability.

As for proving that now that he's with the Browns, Lewis said he feels good about his prospects in the team's new offense under coordinator Rob Chudzinski. He said the large amount of pre-snap movement in the scheme could create some open territory for him to run.

"They're doing a lot of shifts and motions and moving things around and getting eight out of the box," he said. "I'm used to seeing eight or nine guys in the box and the scheme we're running will kind of move things around and get the defense off balance so you're able to run the ball."

Running the ball is expected to be a priority for the Browns under Chudzinski, and most of that load should fall on Lewis, who is the only running back on the team's roster to have recorded a 100-yard game.

As the veteran of the unit and the guy supposedly running out of gas, for all the talk it's hard to believe he turns just 28 this month.

At such a ripe age, where most football players are in the prime of their career, Lewis isn't acting like he has any plans of leaving the game just yet. He feels good, and he expects this season to be as good as any of his career so far.

"I'm not going to say I'm as good as I was then but I'm smarter and more patient with my running style and I'm wiser," he said. "That's what a veteran offers to a team and to this position."

That, and a Sports Illustrated cover every now and then.

Is there a picture of the cover on the internet yet?

*chills* he said that the OL was the best he has seen in a long time???? wow that says something

No SI Jinx!
No SI Jinx!
No SI Jinx!

It's great we got a Brown on the cover of SI. With the way we get coverage, I bet it's been a real long time since we have been on the cover of SI. Still don't really like Jamal Lewis, but I'm sure he'll win over my heart with decent play.

Quote:

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He had surgery in the winter to remove bone spurs from his ankle, but said thanks to the procedure he's now making cuts he hasn't made in a long time.

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If Lewis could get back to his old self, we could really have a good team. He has been a warrior RB that ruins people in the 4th quarters. That pounding late in the game that he delivers is great. Every play, bangs 4 yards or more. Over and over. If Jamal plays well, our offense could hide it's bad QB play and put us in situations where we can beat our opponents. Couple years ago he was top 5 in the NFL. If he gets back to that form, we just ride the Jamal Lewis train and probably be a playoff team.

Quote:

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Running the ball is expected to be a priority for the Browns under Chudzinski, and most of that load should fall on Lewis, who is the only running back on the team's roster to have recorded a 100-yard game.

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And that's why he's probably our most important player this year......


If Jamal Lewis goes down, Dallas will get a great pick next year that's for sure.

Basically there's some if's with Jamal. But IF he can get back to what he used to be, we could be in for a surprising season this year

Sorry about the glass half-empty,...you all know I'm about "Missouri."

Show me,...

But, will definitely have to get this for my collection.

man that is just gorgeous

Well is O-ine opening holes because they are that good or is the d-line that bad??

Only time will tell...

I'll go glass half-full here and say maybe Jamaal knows what he's talking about ??

That'd be nice,...

j/c

I think ALL of this will hinge on the accuracy of what we first heard when Jamal came here.

His claim was that while he was "able to perform last year",bone spurs prevented him from making elusive movements in any fashion like he did in the past. And now he is 100% recovered and pain free.

Now if that is "100% accurate",I think we'll all be smiling. And if the degree in the accuracy is diminished,so will the smiles.

JMHO

Nice read, thanks guys. Gave me chillbumps.

I saw him both practices last Saturday, and from my viewpoint, his cutting and quickness are back. We will like what we see!

Thanks Bud! That's what I was hoping to hear from someone "I know".

Wow, that s=is kind fo something considering the perception of our national coverage. I just may have ot get this copy of SI.

what a great picture...gives me chills. I'll have to get a copy of SI now

Lewis isn't running for cover from SI cover jinx
Jeff Schudel, JSchudel@News-Herald.com
08/02/2007

If there is one thing the Browns do not need, it is more talk of a jinx, but with Jamal Lewis on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the questions are already flying.
Lewis is shown blasting through rubber "arms" on a running drill designed to teach a player to hold onto the ball while opponents try to strip it. It is the fantasy football preview issue, and underneath Lewis' picture are the headlines "NFL CAMPS OPEN" and "Secrets and Surprises."
The implication is Lewis could be a good fantasy pick in his first year with the Browns after seven seasons with the Ravens.
"I don't know about the jinx," Lewis said after practice Wednesday. "I don't believe in jinxes. I've been hurt, injured - I have had the jinx and all that. It's not a big thing to me.
"I think it does more to expose the Browns than myself - to put this team out there just to let people know we're coming and that we're going to be a threat this year."
As far as anyone can remember, Lewis is the first Browns player to be on the cover of SI since Bernie Kosar in 1988. Tim Couch was on the cover on the 1999 predraft issue, but so were Akili Smith and John "Big Dawg" Thompson. All were wearing Browns jerseys.
In 1995, a cartoon illustration of Art Modell punching a dog in the stomach was on the cover.
Officials rule
NFL officials on Wednesday manned practice for the first time this season. They threw penalty flags when necessary and on one close play ruled a pass to Braylon Edwards at the back of the end zone was incomplete.
Officials will meet with players to discuss rule changes and how they will rule in certain situations, such as pass interference and holding. They will be with the Browns through Friday.
Off morning for QBs
Neither Charlie Frye nor Derek Anderson distinguished themselves in practice Wednesday morning. Anderson connected with Travis Wilson for a touchdown on a 20-yard pass, but he also was intercepted by Kenny Wright and Daven Holly.
Frye tried to thread the needle on a pass in the end zone, but Brodney Pool broke it up. It was Frye's pass to Edwards that was ruled incomplete.
Both passed better in the afternoon. Anderson made a quick pass to Jerome Harrison. Frye snapped a quick throw to Edwards on a slant and then completed a pass to Kellen Winslow Jr. in stride on a seam route.
Quinn update
Brady Quinn has now missed six days and nine practices during his holdout, which becomes a week long today. Quinn, drafted 22nd overall, is one of seven unsigned first-round picks. Only two players drafted after Quinn are unsigned - Dwayne Bowe, a wide receiver drafted 23rd by the Chiefs, and linebacker Jon Benson, drafted 25th by the Panthers.

It would be HUGE to have a possession running game - both for our young QBs AND our defense. Keep them off the field and keep them fresh and they will produce 20-30% better from that alone.