Not even joining the elite 10,000-yard club was enough to ease the sting of the worst season Jamal Lewis has endured in his nine-year career.

"Oh yeah, it's the worst season that I've ever played in, honestly," said Lewis, who during the 14-0 loss to the Bengals became the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards. "It's the toughest season ever. Due to circumstances, this wasn't the season that everybody wanted. But we didn't come out here and throw games and just lay down. We fought hard, but it wasn't enough."

Lewis said he derives no real joy from reaching 10,000, which he accomplished on an 8-yard run in the third quarter.

"It doesn't mean anything to me, honestly," Lewis said. "My concern this year wasn't coming in to get 10,000 yards. It was to have a winning season. It's a great accomplishment, but I'm a winner. That's what I am and that's what I want to be. Hopefully we can get things together around here and put together some winning seasons."

The Browns' 4-11 record ensures Lewis will finish with the worst record of his nine-year career. His previous worst was 6-10 with the Ravens in 2005. In fact, he's only been part of three losing seasons in his career.

Asked if it's taken a toll on him mentally, he said: "I don't care honestly about that. I still have a job to do. That's what I prepare for and come to work for - to fight and give my all and do what I can do. I've just got to keep fighting until the end of the season and the season's not over with."

Lewis, who rushed for 76 yards and a 4.8-yard average against the Bengals, needs 92 yards to finish with at least 1,000 for the seventh time in his eight healthy seasons. But that will be hard to come by in Pittsburgh.

"I'm really not a numbers guy," he said. "I never really know how many yards I have until the end of the season and I don't know now."

Lewis' achievement wasn't lost on coach Romeo Crennel or his teammates.

"That's probably the only positive thing that came out of the game," Crennel said. "It's a major accomplishment, so congratulations to him. But it wasn't good enough for us."

Said receiver Braylon Edwards: "That's a tremendous stat to have, to be amongst the Barry Sanders and Curtis Martins and the Jim Browns. To be in that elite group says a lot about what he's done in his career. We're all proud and I'm happy I had a chance to be a part of it when he was here."

Lewis became the second Browns player to reach the milestone. His friend and mentor Jim Brown had 12,312.

"It's always great to be mentioned with the likes of a great running back like Jim Brown and be around a facility where he's there most of the time," Lewis said. "Hopefully there will be more milestones to cross over."

Lewis said the season got away from the Browns in preseason when many of the key offensive players went down with injuries, including quarterback Derek Anderson, Edwards, Josh Cribbs, and himself. He also cited the loss of receiver Dont? Stallworth before the opener.

"We didn't get much of a chance to work together," he said. "You're not talking about second-string guys, you're talking about starters. Not only did it set us back, we dug ourselves a hole that we really couldn't crawl out of."

Despite the dismal year, Lewis remains optimistic for 2009.

"I know we can rebound," he said. "It's all in how you prepare to come back. That's why I work hard in the off-season, so I can stay healthy."

He's also not concerned about the impending shakeup after the season.

"I have a contract with the Browns to play running back and do my job," he said. "Whatever else happens, happens. I'm here to do my part."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670