Browns’ Lewis ready for Ravens on Sunday

BEREA (AP) — Jamal Lewis did it all for Baltimore, and then got shown the door.

During six superb seasons, he won a Super Bowl ring, NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, rushed for more than 7,000 yards and scored 45 touchdowns as a workhorse running back for the Ravens.

They, in turn, ran him out of town.

Not that he minded.

“I really didn’t want to come back,” he said. “Honestly.”

On Sunday, Lewis, who signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns, will face his former team for the first time since the Ravens released him. It was a separation he appears to have accepted, but one that initially hurt as much as being drilled by a blitzing linebacker.

Played in pain

Despite rushing for 1,132 yards last season with painful bone spurs in his ankles, the 27-year-old Lewis became expendable to Ravens coach Brian Billick, who shifted his offensive philosophy from a punishing, running attack to more of a finesse passing game.

In March, the Ravens decided not to pay Lewis a $5 million bonus and handed him his walking papers. The next day they traded for Willis McGahee.

Lewis insists he holds no animosity toward his ex-coach.

“I really have nothing against him,” Lewis said. “But when it comes to my career and the things that we’ve accomplished there and in the past, it kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth.”

Feels rejuvenated

Lewis, who ran for 2,066 yards in 2003, feels rejuvenated with the Browns (1-2). Ten pounds lighter than his playing weight of recent years, he showed breakaway speed two weeks ago against Cincinnati when he burst through the middle for a 66-yard TD run and finished with 216 yards on 27 carries.

The performance reaffirmed Cleveland general manager Phil Savage’s belief that Lewis, whom he helped draft, could still be a No. 1 back.

Ray Lewis never had a doubt.

“I believe Jamal is still one of the top five backs in this business,” the Ravens linebacker said.