Mangini defends practice schedule after Lewis’ rant

BEREA (AP) — As Jamal Lewis backtracked on his stinging comments directed at Cleveland coach Eric Mangini for overworking his players, several of the Browns gathered near the running back’s locker. One of them even stood on a nearby chair.

Soon, the Browns began a chant.

“J-Lew, J-Lew, J-Lew,” they hollered.

One day after Lewis’ anti-Mangini rant, he was being hailed as a hero.

Maybe because he stood up to his coach.

On Friday, Mangini defended the length and intensity of his practices after Lewis had complained that Cleveland’s players are being worked too hard.

Lewis asserted on Thursday that Mangini was wearing out his players during the week with 21‚Ñ2- to 3-hour workouts, and that by the time kickoff rolls around on Sunday, they have nothing left. Mangini maintains his practices are not any longer or more physical than ones he’s conducted in the past.

“I feel good about the way we practice, the time we practice,” said Mangini, 1-7 in his first season with Cleveland. “Two hours of work on the field is a very reasonable time. The only time that practices are extended is if we don’t execute something the right way.”

Mangini said that he and Lewis, a team captain, had a “good conversation” on Thursday and discussed their differences. Mangini did not provide any details of their meeting and said he does not view Lewis’ comments as detrimental conduct.

“Like with any conversation, sometimes you agree on things, sometimes you change some things, sometimes you agree to disagree,” he said.

Mangini stressed that his workouts are rarely longer than two hours — with a 30-minute walkthrough.

“For the record, it’s two hours,” he said with emphasis. “That’s the facts. That’s the reality of it. It’s two hours a day. Less on Friday.”

Lewis said he appreciated the chance to meet with Mangini. Then Lewis said the media had twisted his comments.

“We got a chance to talk and exchange ideas and everything and get a view of what he’s trying to accomplish and what’s going on,” the 10-year veteran said. “I let him know that your guys’ story was kind of blown out of proportion and it was worded and went in a certain way.”

During his rant on Thursday, Lewis said Mangini was pushing his players too hard.

“You can work as hard as you want,” he said. “You can work all day, seven days a week all the way up to Sunday in practice. But at the same time, if you’re going to work like that, then maybe on Sunday you’re probably not going to get what you want out of your players.”