Browns: Ranking the 5 best running backs since 1999 not named Nick Chubb
By Chad Porto
No. 2 Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis was one of the most intimidating running backs in the NFL, partly because of his punishing style of play and partly because he was brazen enough to sell drugs while making millions of dollars. The one-time Pro Bowler was a legend in Baltimore, and while he was injured the year they won it, was a former Super Bowl winner with the franchise.
In his last year with the Ravens, they went 13-3 and opted to let Lewis move on, replacing him with former Miami Hurricanes and Buffalo Bills star Willis McGahee. The team would not repeat their success without Lewis.
Lewis, for his part, went to Cleveland where he would play for three seasons and post-back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Lewis was just the second running back since 1999 to post 1,000 yards in a season with the Browns, and the only player at that point to post two 1,000 yard seasons. He was also a focal point of the 2007 team that won 10 games.
While he posted 10,607 yards rushing in his career, and 4.2 YPC, he only posted 2,806 of that in Cleveland. His production dropped each year while in Cleveland, posting 1,304 yards, 4.4 YPC, and nine touchdowns his first year. In his second year, he posted 1,002 yards, 3.6 YPC, and four touchdowns. Then his last year saw him post just 500 yards rushing, with 3.5 YPC and zero touchdowns. He also missed seven games and started only eight.
He took a backseat to the second running back that year, Jerome Harrison, who isn’t on the list.