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According to Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Jamal Lewis has ticked off the Browns by telling them he's going to run all over them tomorrow and set the NFL single-game rushing record.

Cleveland safety Earl Little told Cabot that Lewis talked some trash in a phone conversation with one of the Browns' defenders this week and has the entire defense fired up.

"One of my teammates has a friend on their team," Little said. "[The Ravens player] called his boy Jamal and put him on a three-way with one of our teammates. He actually told my teammate he was going to run over us and that he was going to break the NFL rushing record."

The record is 278 yards, set by Cincinnati's Corey Dillon against Denver in 2000.

Little warned that Lewis will have "his work cut out for him" tomorrow in Baltimore.

"He's not as great as he thinks he is, you can print that," Little said. "He's a good back, but he's no Edgerrin James, he's no Ricky Williams and he's definitely no Priest Holmes."

Of course, some might say Lewis has room to talk.

Last season, he rushed for 187 yards in the first meeting against the Browns to tie his career-high, and 100 yards in the second meeting. What's more:

Two of his four best career games are against the Browns, 187 yards last season and 170 yards in 2000.

He has more carries (90) for more yards (543) against the Browns than any other team in the NFL.

He is averaging 135.8 yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry against the Browns.

Three of his 12 career 100-yard games are against the Browns.

In the first meeting last season, Lewis broke a long run of 75 yards in the third quarter to set a Ravens record. He also set a team mark by averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

"He's a really hard runner," Browns head coach Butch Davis explained. "When he's headed downhill, he's running full steam and when he hits a crack, he's got the speed to take it for a big play. A lot of guys that are as big as he is, they're battering-ram guys that move the pile and make 4 or 5 yards, but Jamal is a guy who can hit a crack and it may not always go 75 yards, but it's got a chance of being a 25- or 30-yarder."

Last week against the Steelers, Lewis rushed 15 times for 69 yards in a 34-15 loss and coaches have vowed to get him the ball more this week. The Ravens are 17-2 when he carries the ball 20 times or more.

Also of interest. ...

Frank Sanders returned to practice this week and expects to play tomorrow.

The former Cardinal missed the season opener with two dislocated toes. He's listed as questionable for this week and whether he actually starts or not, head coach Brian Billick hinted Friday that Sanders' playing time will depend on how he looks early.