The Facts: With Lewis returning to work this week after recovering from off-season ankle surgery, new HC Eric Mangini had nothing but praise for the veteran RB. “I’ve always been impressed with how physical and tough Jamal is,” Mangini said. “What I’ve been most impressed with Jamal is what he does in the meeting rooms in helping tutor (the younger players) and work with the other players. Coming from a guy like Jamal, it tends to sink in even further to the other players.”
Diehards Line:Lewis is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, as well as surgery on his ankle, but the Browns have not targeted running back as a position of need in free agency or the draft (they drafted James Davis in sixth-round, but allowed Jason Wright to leave via free agency). According to Scout.com's Fred Greetham, Mangini thinks Lewis can still be effective. The coach mentioned Lewis as one of the players who impressed him in his initial press conference after his hiring. “This system fits him and what I’ve seen of him on tape has shown up on the field.”