Browns’ Crennel says team hasn’t quit on him

If he’s going down, Romeo Crennel is going down fighting.

Stung and insulted by veteran running back Jamal Lewis’ claim that some unnamed Browns quit in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos, Cleveland’s embattled coach disputed Lewis’ belief, defended his leadership skills and said he was certain his team has not given up on him or a season spiraling away.

“When you say that the team quit, that’s saying that I quit,” said Crennel, whose team is 3-6. “I know that I’m not a quitter and my players don’t quit.”

After the Broncos scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and beat the Browns, 34-30, on Thursday -- just four days after a similar collapse in a home loss to the Baltimore Ravens -- a frustrated Lewis vented by saying some Browns quit and others needed to check their egos.

Lewis’ comments were then supported Monday by return specialist Joshua Cribbs, who said the team needed to “weed out those guys and play the rest of the season out.”

Lewis refused to get into any specifics about his postgame rant, but he isn’t retracting his statements and said he had spoken to some players individually.

Etc.

The NFL will reduce playoff ticket prices an average of 10% in response to “the economic challenges facing fans,” the league announced. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams participated in his first practice since being activated from the physically unable to perform list. To make room for him on the roster, the Buccaneers released Michael Bennett, who was signed by the San Diego Chargers later Wednesday. . . . Interim head Coach Tom Cable has taken over the play-calling duties for the Oakland Raiders from offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.