Jamal Lewis on the Bubble

[Flugel]

@shepwrite said:

Why would SF cut Sheets? He's looked fantastic! But like somebody said... you never know.

I can't see that happening. We paid him so we might as well see what he does when the lights come on. James Davis is going to be carrying the load sooner than later and I love Harrison.

A few things:

1) While SF was hoping they found a gem in Sheets somebody spilled Coffee all over their running game. The explosion in that camp is Glenn Coffee. And Robinson won't get cut due to his standout play on Sts so it's very realistic SF will try to get Sheets on their practice squad. Won't he have to clear waivers first?

2) I've always been intrigued by the excitement and spark Harrison brings. That said, he picks the worst possible times to get dinged up and not be able to answer the bell. Last year he lit Buffalo up and before the end of the game he turned an ankle right about the time he would have had an ideal chance to get more reps. Timing and luck haven't been on his side so far. That said, these injuries might be a sign he's not built for the NFL.

3) I can't wait to see more of James Davis. Jamal seems to take forever to hit the hole these days; and he's running to upright to make his 245 pound frame as powerful as it once was. If he was still the SAME Jamal - he'd still be in Baltimore wouldn't he?

- Tom F.

[Solon16]

also...Lex hilliard from Miami, dont think the dolphins keep 4 either...

[Solon16]

"Some of you really need a better understanding of how these things work in the NFL. You really think they'd dump 5M in a bonus to him just to kick the tires and decide he doesn't fit???? Really??? He is a perfect pro who just taught your young studs how to be an NFL player in both the offseason and in season. "

Should i give you the list?

McGinest, Washington, Dilfer, Andruzzi...etc etc...same argument....same result...washed up

[hoorta]

@vegasdogg said:

Which is exactly why you keep Lewis. Look all camp long all Mangini has said is how much a team player Jamal is, which means he is sharing the load. But citting him wouldn't take balls. It would be very dumb, considering he is a 10 yr vet and you didn't need 3 practice games to know whether you want him or not. You'd alienate every player on the team considering what a hard worker he is.

Some of you really need a better understanding of how these things work in the NFL. You really think they'd dump 5M in a bonus to him just to kick the tires and decide he doesn't fit???? Really??? He is a perfect pro who just taught your young studs how to be an NFL player in both the offseason and in season.

Mangini fell off of the Bill Belichoke tree. "I can only go by what I see". I see a guy that's lost his burst. Sisky's gonna owe me a real nice bottle of wine. Now we may keep him around as our rendition of Jerome Bettis as a short yardage situational back, but please If you want to compare him at this stage of his career as a legit threat to gain 1,000 yards, put down the crack pipe. He's certainly not an elite back anymore, and if you want to suggest he's even an average back, I think you're over reaching.

The good is- if Lewis goes 10 carries for 23 yards (like he did against the Titans) he'll be riding pine in short order.

[ballpeen]

@earl34 said:

I think he stays for veteran presence and limited duty a la Jerome Bettis post emergence of Willie Parker.

Probably so, but finding a vet to replace him wouldn't be that hard. Every year there are a handful of those guys to be had.....but since he knows the plays and was paid the coin, he probably sticks.

Then again, not sure what he will make in salary this year. Maybe we cut him, see if he gets signed somewhere else, then try to sign him back at a reduced rate.

[ATENEARS]

@vegasdogg said:

Which is exactly why you keep Lewis. Look all camp long all Mangini has said is how much a team player Jamal is, which means he is sharing the load. But citting him wouldn't take balls. It would be very dumb, considering he is a 10 yr vet and you didn't need 3 practice games to know whether you want him or not. You'd alienate every player on the team considering what a hard worker he is.

Some of you really need a better understanding of how these things work in the NFL. You really think they'd dump 5M in a bonus to him just to kick the tires and decide he doesn't fit???? Really??? He is a perfect pro who just taught your young studs how to be an NFL player in both the offseason and in season.

Ahhh... spoken like a true fan thousands of miles away. When reality is, when you attend a training camp practice you can clearly see that the guy wasn't 100% into it mentally this season. He was slow, almost lazy ... had the type of body language that said that he didn't give a shit.

This ain't the Jamal Lewis that came into Cleveland a few years back hungry as hell and ready to prove that he wasn't washed up way back then. The one who worked hard and busted his ass in every rep of every drill. The one who stuck-out from the rest of the pretenders.

Now Lewis is pretending. Davis worked much harder and is more hungry and much fresher.

Lewis scares no-one, except the accounting department.

[Vegasdogg]

@hoorta said:

Mangini fell off of the Bill Belichoke tree. "I can only go by what I see". I see a guy that's lost his burst. Sisky's gonna owe me a real nice bottle of wine. Now we may keep him around as our rendition of Jerome Bettis as a short yardage situational back, but please If you want to compare him at this stage of his career as a legit threat to gain 1,000 yards, put down the crack pipe. He's certainly not an elite back anymore, and if you want to suggest he's even an average back, I think you're over reaching.

The good is- if Lewis goes 10 carries for 23 yards (like he did against the Titans) he'll be riding pine in short order.

Your missing the point. Jamal Lewis is a 10 yr vet deserving of much more respect than getting cut because of a few flashes from a six round pick. If you didn't know what you had in Lewis before now, than you shouldn't be head coach. Mangini likes what he has in Lewis, otherwise he would have done the right thing and cut him before the first preseason game so he could sign with someone else, and you bring in another vet to learn the offense. Cutting him now is dumb because it shows complete lack of respect while also hurting the team.

You don't cut a Jamal Lewis 10 days before the 1st game.

[Vegasdogg]

@atenears said:

Ahhh... spoken like a true fan thousands of miles away. When reality is, when you attend a training camp practice you can clearly see that the guy wasn't 100% into it mentally this season. He was slow, almost lazy ... had the type of body language that said that he didn't give a shit.

This ain't the Jamal Lewis that came into Cleveland a few years back hungry as hell and ready to prove that he wasn't washed up way back then. The one who worked hard and busted his ass in every rep of every drill. The one who stuck-out from the rest of the pretenders.

Now Lewis is pretending. Davis worked much harder and is more hungry and much fresher.

Lewis scares no-one, except the accounting department.

Well for reasons I won't get into in this post, I obiously cannot trust your judgement any longer, so I will go ahead and side with Mangini on this one, who has illustrated time and time again that Jamal is a team player and will do whatever the team asks, which if read between the lines means teaching the young studs how to be a pro while also sharing time with them.

And when I say you don't understand the NFL, I mean it. Jamal deserves much better than being cut 10 days before the first game. You know what you have/don't have in him way back in mini-camp and OTA's. Cutting him now is a complete slap in the face to all vets around the league you may want to sign next offseason. They won't come.

I know for a fact he does give a shit and isn't lazy. When you were wasting time typing on a message board he was in the sand running his ass off preparing for camp - a notoriously tough offseason regimen.

[hammertime]

@atenears said:

Ahhh... spoken like a true fan thousands of miles away. When reality is, when you attend a training camp practice you can clearly see that the guy wasn't 100% into it mentally this season. He was slow, almost lazy ... had the type of body language that said that he didn't give a shit.

This ain't the Jamal Lewis that came into Cleveland a few years back hungry as hell and ready to prove that he wasn't washed up way back then. The one who worked hard and busted his ass in every rep of every drill. The one who stuck-out from the rest of the pretenders.

Now Lewis is pretending. Davis worked much harder and is more hungry and much fresher.

Lewis scares no-one, except the accounting department.

How long have you felt like?

Do you want him on the roster? I think if there is room for a short yardage back JL can still provide.

[Vegasdogg]

@solon16 said:

Should i give you the list?

McGinest, Washington, Dilfer, Andruzzi...etc etc...same argument....same result...washed up

I don't think any of those guys were cut 10 days before the season. In the NFL, you know what you have with vets, so you don't keep them on the roster and then cut them down to 53.

If I remember correctly, of all the shit performances last season, this guy at least had 1000 yards. Doesn't mean he should carry the load this season, but on a team where everyone halved there yardage totals, he busted his ass every game, no matter how slow. So if you didn't want him back, you let him go early in the offseason and let him try to get on with another team. Respect! Jamal has certainly earned that.

[Gips]

@solon16 said:

"Some of you really need a better understanding of how these things work in the NFL. You really think they'd dump 5M in a bonus to him just to kick the tires and decide he doesn't fit???? Really??? He is a perfect pro who just taught your young studs how to be an NFL player in both the offseason and in season. "

Should i give you the list?

McGinest, Washington, Dilfer, Andruzzi...etc etc...same argument....same result...washed up

JL is washed up he isnt an elite back anymore but he is a warrior in the locker room but he isnt going anywhere due to compensation...he like DA is already bought and paid for with a insanely hefty overpay and i fear DA will start because of it so we may see DA and JL leading the charge but we will see BQ and davis finishing the battle..

Putting poorly spent money ahead of building a winning team is sick and will cost this club dearly if they go this route but thats usually the business side of it and mankok appears to be a serious money manager...

[AdaM]

@hoorta said:

Mangini fell off of the Bill Belichoke tree. "I can only go by what I see". I see a guy that's lost his burst. Sisky's gonna owe me a real nice bottle of wine. Now we may keep him around as our rendition of Jerome Bettis as a short yardage situational back, but please If you want to compare him at this stage of his career as a legit threat to gain 1,000 yards, put down the crack pipe. He's certainly not an elite back anymore, and if you want to suggest he's even an average back, I think you're over reaching.

The good is- if Lewis goes 10 carries for 23 yards (like he did against the Titans) he'll be riding pine in short order.

He can still block and play ST's.... the bonus is paid might as well keep him.

[LCDawgFan13]

It is too late to drop JL this season. They already paid the bonus and he has already gone through camp. He deserves a spot on the roster. I am one person who wanted him dropped months ago. I thought he showed last season that he was done. I wanted them to go after someone in the draft in the 1st or 2nd round. When we got Davis in the 6th, I was excited. The kid has phenomenal talent and will be a solid back in the NFL. J-Lew has done a great job mentoring him. I think Lewis deserves to get some carries, but Davis has got to be the feature back with Lewis and Harrison being the change of pace guys. Lewis is a real pro and I have no doubt he will continue to present himself as a true pro. Mangini would be a classless fool to cut him now.

[Aloysius]

According to Dan Pompei, Lewis's base salary this year is guaranteed. If true, that would make cutting him absolutely pointless.

[AdaM]

Aloysius said:

According to Dan Pompei, Lewis's base salary this year is guaranteed. If true, that would make cutting him absolutely pointless.

Which means its definitely something the browns will consider.

[ClevelandFanForLife]

@lcdawgfan13 said:

It is too late to drop JL this season.

someone should tell kansas city that.

[ATENEARS]

@hammertime said:

How long have you felt like?

Do you want him on the roster? I think if there is room for a short yardage back JL can still provide.

Actually, I started growing tired of Jamal dancing in the hole, about this time last season ... maybe a month later.

It is not that I want to see him get cut, I'd like him on this team for the leadership, work-ethic qualities too. I believe he WON'T be cut, especially factoring in the bonus and not just because of it.

But it wouldn't surprise me if he does get cut, and it wouldn't much bother me either. I'd side with Mangini's call.

[Kosar_For_President]

I've been saying this all along.

This year, he runs like a Retard in a scrum, playing rubgy. He runs right into the backs of the linemen. No holes my ass. He does this with an open field.

He almost looks silly, churning his legs and going NOWHERE.

Cut em, or use him sparingly. NOT on the Goal Line, for reasons stated above.

[Kosar_For_President]

Aloysius said:

According to Dan Pompei, Lewis's base salary this year is guaranteed. If true, that would make cutting him absolutely pointless.

True. Put him at fullback?

[ClevelandFanForLife]

@kosar_for_president said:

True. Put him at fullback?

how about assback. when he runs out on the field, mangini will yell "jamal! get your ass back here"