PatMac: Lewis Still Has It, He thinks the Pick is Quinn

In this mornings Ohio.com column, Pat McManamon, offers his take on the guards, Jamal Lewis and the draft, as well as free agency.

One NFL front-office type, who was told his insights would be used but without his name, shared his opinion. (We'll call him Mr. Front Office, 'cuz that always seems to add an air of mystery and intrigue to a guy's opinions.)

Lewis and Droughns ``are probably comparable,'' he said. ``Reuben, at his best, did good things. He's a hard runner. Reuben can do a little more on the outside. Inside, Jamal can be as good or better.''

If there is any difference between the Lewis of today and the Lewis of 2003, it's the inability to turn 5-yard runs into 50-yarders, Mr. Front Office said.

One scout said Lewis had gone from being a freak with size who could run to more like Stephen Davis, a hard-running, powerful inside back. Mr. Front Office did not disagree.
Lewis is ``a horse,'' he said. ``There's not the huge explosion plays like he once had, but he can be a consistent pounder for you.''

He also said, however, that Lewis had a better year in 2006, when he played with bone spurs, than in 2004 and 2005.

``If he's back on the upswing, I don't know,'' Mr. Front Office said. ``Sometimes backs have a resurgence. He's not done by any means.''