Berea, OH (Betting Express) - Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis
has become the latest in a string of NFL players to have recently suffered a
head injury.
The Browns placed him on injured reserve Wednesday with what the Cleveland
Plain Dealer reports is a serious concussion suffered in last Sunday's loss
to Cincinnati. The 30-year-old Lewis reportedly met with a brain trauma
specialist Wednesday.
Lewis, who had previously stated that the 2009 season would be his last,
looks to have played his final NFL snap. The Plain Dealer went on to report
that Lewis' MRI exam revealed "brain abnormalities," according to the paper's
source.
Browns head coach Eric Mangini made no mention of Lewis or any sort of injury
during his press conference earlier in the day, but the team later issued a
release confirming both Lewis and safety Brodney Pool are done for the season.
Pool was also placed on IR after suffering his fourth career concussion versus
the Bengals. Just 25, Pool's career may also be in jeopardy.
"After consulting with our medical team, we felt that this was in the best
interests of both Jamal and Brodney at this time," said Mangini. "As I've said
before, organizationally, players' health and safety are paramount in any
decision we make with regards to putting them back on the field."
Lewis and Pool are just the latest in a recent rash of head injuries to plague
the league. More specifically, concussions have become the hot-button issue
this season for the league and commissioner Roger Goodell.
While the story surrounding Lewis' exact condition began to unfold late
Wednesday, Goodell was simultaneously sending a memo to each of the NFL's 32
teams on an updated policy with regard to concussions and when a player should
be allowed to return to the field.
The statement comes two years after the league ruled that players who lose
consciousness while playing may not return to the game. Teams will now have to
take extra precaution in the week(s) immediately following the game in which
the concussion occurred.
Among those to succumb to concussions in recent weeks are several high-profile
members of the league, including Redskins running back Clinton Portis, Eagles
running back Brian Westbrook and wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Steelers
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.
Both Warner and Roethlisberger, last year's two starting quarterbacks for the
Super Bowl, both sat out Sunday due to their injuries.
Lewis is 21st on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 10,607 yards. In his
10th NFL season in 2009, Lewis ran for 500 yards in nine games.
"Jamal has been an integral part of this team and he has exhibited a great
work ethic. He worked hard, studied hard and set a good example for the
younger running backs," Mangini added.
The Tennessee product was in his third season with the Browns after
a successful seven-year stint with Baltimore that saw Lewis join a rare class
of NFL running back -- becoming one of six players to rush for 2,000 or
more yards in a single season during the 2003 campaign. Lewis' 2,066
yards was second to only Eric Dickerson's league-record 2,105 yards in 1984.
Pool set career bests with four interceptions and 10 passes defensed in just
11 games this season. He added 50 tackles for the Browns, whom he's been with
since entering the league in 2005.
