Browns' Lewis Going Ahead With Retirement Plans

Jamal Lewis can see the goal line to his career. It's just eight games away.

Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis (31) is tackled by Chicago Bears linebackers Hunter Hillenmeyer (92) and Lance Briggs (55) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

(AP)

Cleveland's durable running back said Wednesday that he hasn't changed his mind about retiring after this season, his 10th in the NFL. Lewis announced the decision following the Browns' 30-6 loss Sunday in Chicago, leading to speculation he was speaking from emotion.

Surely he would change his mind.

Not Lewis. Just as he runs with the football, he's churning his legs and trying not to let anyone bring him down.

"I don't talk just to talk," he said. "I mean what I say."

The 30-year-old Lewis, who moved into 21st place on the league's career rushing list last week, hinted that he may have decided to retire long before the Browns' 1-7 start. Lewis paused when he was asked if he came into the season knowing it would be his last one.

"I'd rather not answer that question," he said. "I just wanted to come out here and give it a shot — check out the new system, the new coaches and give it another shot with my teammates. That's really all I said I would do this season is hopefully go out and have a winning season."

It hasn't worked out that way. To this point, the Browns have shown little progress under first-year coach Eric Mangini. And beyond the losses, the club is still plagued by turmoil. Just this week general manager George Kokinis, who worked with Lewis in Baltimore, was relieved of his duties.

Lewis is disappointed with the Browns' continuous slide, but said the team's performance through eight gams had no bearing on his decision to retire.

"They didn't sour me," he said of the losses. "I just expected better. I expected more. I expected to win. I was excited to start off the season with the attitude Mangini and his staff instilled in us. At the same time, when you work as hard as we did you want to see results.

"I'm still looking for them."

Lewis may have lost a step or two since rushing for 2,066 yards for the Ravens in 2003. But his stature hasn't changed inside Cleveland's locker room. The Browns elected him as a captain before the season and the team's younger players look up to him as an all-around role model.