Browns' running back Jamal Lewis has told the Akron Beacon Journal that he is confident he will play when the team visits the Rams on October 28. The former 2,000-yard rusher missed Sunday's game against the Dolphins after straining his right foot in the first quarter on October 7 against the Patriots.

The Cleveland Browns built an early lead and held on for a 41-31 win Sunday that handed the Miami Dolphins a franchise-record ninth consecutive loss. "It is humbling," linebacker Joey Porter said. "As a team, as a defense, we have real high expectations. But we are not playing real good football right now." The Browns (3-3) scored on three of their first four possessions to go up 17-3 before Leigh Bodden intercepted Cleo Lemon's pass. Quarterback Derek Anderson turned it into a 24-yard touchdown throw to Braylon Edwards on the next play. After the Dolphins (0-6) pulled within 27-24 in the third quarter, Anderson threw his second and third TD passes of the game to Edwards to put it out of reach.

Browns' running back Jamal Lewis will sit out Sunday's game against the Dolphins because of a sprained right foot. Jason Wright is expected to make his fourth career start in Lewis' place. Lewis hurt the foot on his first carry last week, an 11-yard run in a 34-17 loss to New England. He spent the week in a walking boot and did not practice.

Miami's Joey Porter, who has waged a personal and sometimes profane battle against Browns tight end Kellen Winslow the past two years, renewed their feud earlier this week with more biting words. "He's a receiver, really," Porter said. "He's not a tight end, because he's not going to block anybody. If you ask me who's going to win the Joey Porter-Kellen Winslow battle: Me." On Thursday, Winslow responded. "I think Joey Porter needs a hug," Winslow said, smiling. "He's so angry, man."

Browns left guard Eric Steinbach called Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel "classless" Monday, alleging Vrabel dived at the knees of the Browns' top draft choice, left tackle Joe Thomas, on a spike play that Cleveland ran with 11 seconds left in the game. Following the game, several Browns had words for Vrabel, a former Ohio State star. Yesterday, Steinbach said Vrabel, who declined to speak with the media yesterday when approached, should be fined. "I hope so," said Steinbach. "You've got to get fined for that. If he's going to keep going on like that, maybe he doesn't care about a $5,000 fine. But I wouldn't want that reputation."

The New England Patriots are unbeaten, not unblemished. At least one of them is dirty to Browns guard Eric Steinbach. Irritated over what he thought was a cheap shot in the closing seconds of Sunday's 34-17 loss, Steinbach called Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel "classless" on Monday and hopes the NFL fines one of New England's top players. Steinbach felt Vrabel purposely dived at the knees of rookie tackle Joe Thomas' legs with 11 seconds remaining on a play that was stopped when Browns quarterback Derek Anderson spiked the ball. "It was uncalled for," Steinbach said.