BEREA — Jamal Lewis said Friday he isn’t putting anything extra into his preparation for the Ravens.
Even if it is the organization that cut him loose after seven seasons, 7,801 yards and a Super Bowl win.
“Hopefully I don’t put on more for one team than I do for another,” he said. “That wouldn’t make me the player that I am.
“To me, it’s just another team in our way, in our path to where we’re trying to go.”
Much of Lewis’ hunger when he arrived in Cleveland as a free agent in 2007 was to prove he was still an elite running back. He resented Baltimore coach Brian Billick for abandoning a run-first philosophy and wasting Lewis’ talents.
Billick was fired after last season, so that helps Lewis take the trip to Baltimore in stride. In particular, he’s not excited about the up-close-and-personal reunions that take place between the tackles and end with him lying on the ground under 1,000 pounds of muscle and flab.
“I hope I don’t meet anybody in the middle. I hope it’s wide open,” Lewis said on a conference call with Baltimore reporters. “But I’m sure 52 (Ray Lewis) will be roaming around like he always is. It’s just what football’s all about — a physical football game.”
Lewis said the same thing last week about the matchup with the Steelers. He proceeded to rush 19 times for 38 yards, bringing his season total to 100 yards on 32 carries (3.1 average).
Those numbers aren’t what were expected for a guy coming off a 1,304-yard season and a rigorous offseason program that had him in tip-top shape for camp. But a tweaked hamstring cost him two preseason games and still isn’t 100 percent, and he dinged his ankle against Pittsburgh.
“Neither one is a big concern,” said Lewis, who’s listed as probable. “I practiced every day and worked hard.
“Right now the running game’s a little bit short. We’re trying to put everything together and make everything better.”
Lewis will have his work cut out for him again this week. The Ravens haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 20 games, the longest streak in the NFL, and held Cincinnati to 70 yards in the opener.
“They’re a great defense,” Lewis said. “They come with a lot of multiple fronts and have some hard-working guys up front and a great linebacking corps. So, that’s what makes it tough to run the football.”
Linebacker Ray Lewis remains the heartbeat of the defense, even at age 33. He led Baltimore with 11 tackles against the Bengals and has averaged 13.7 in 15 games against the Browns. He also has six sacks, four interceptions (one for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He had 23 tackles in the last matchup in November.
“Ray has an excellent motor and still can run,” Jamal Lewis said. “He works harder than anybody I know in the offseason. He’s not a slouch.”
The Browns and Ravens will always be connected because of Art Modell’s move, and Jamal Lewis gives the organizations another unique tie.
He holds both teams’ records for rushing yards versus the other. He rushed for 295 against the Browns in 2003 and for 92 against Baltimore in November. In the Browns’ series sweep last year, he carried 45 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
“We did pretty well, but could’ve done better,” he said. “With a defense like that, you kinda take what they give you because they’re not going to give you a lot.”
The Ravens are a team in transition with a rookie coach and rookie quarterback. The Browns are 0-2, but Lewis is optimistic about the rest of the year and remains glad he signed in Cleveland.
“I’m happy here, happy to play with these guys,” Lewis said. “It’s a good place, good team, good coaching staff, good organization.
“I just think we need to put this thing together on Sundays.”
This Sunday would be the perfect time to start. And after some prodding, Lewis conceded it means a little extra to him.
“Going against an old team and my old teammates makes it that much better because you’re playing guys you played against in practice and used to root for them on Sunday,” he said. “You know what they’re bringing. The main thing is to have fun.
“For us, the main thing is to go out and get a win.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

NEXT UP

WHO: Cleveland at Baltimore
WHEN: Sunday, 4:15 p.m.
WHERE: M&T Bank Stadium
TV/RADIO: Channel 19; WMMS 100.7-FM

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