Turnovers kill Browns' hopes

Drubbing ruins former area star's homecoming

Eric Steinbach quite possibly was the only Cleveland Brown who took something positive from a 30-6 drubbing Sunday at the hands of the Bears.

Steinbach, a starting guard who starred at Providence Catholic and Iowa, is fulfilling a lifelong NFL dream and called the opportunity to play again at Soldier Field ''special.''

''I was a big Bears fan as a kid,'' said Steinbach, who had plenty of friends and family in attendance. ''In college it started to fall off. You think about the draft and anyone can draft you. You just don't know. But it's always great to come here.''

Steinbach, a former Sun-Times All-Area and All-State selection, was drafted in the second round with the 33rd pick by Cincinnati in 2003. The seven-year pro made his 100th start in his 101st NFL game Sunday.

''We thought we could be in the game if we could limit the bad football,'' the 29-year-old Lockport native said.

''Turnovers, especially that many [three lost fumbles, two interceptions] will kill any team at this level. We didn't limit mistakes.''

Many of the mistakes were the fault of quarterback Derek Anderson, who had a dismal day. Anderson was 6-for-17 passing for 76 yards with two interceptions and a 10.5 passer rating.

''We're not going to win any games turning the ball over four or five times, I don't care how good your defense is,'' said Anderson, who was lifted late for former Notre Dame star Brady Quinn. ''If you turn it over, you lose.''

Browns running back Jamal Lewis, who rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries (giving him 10,456 for his career), told reporters that he planned to retire after the season.

''This is very hard,'' Lewis said. ''To me, I think this is my last year. I had a good run.''

Lewis said the Browns' 1-7 first half isn't the fault of coach Eric Mangini.

''I'm not judging the coaching,'' Lewis said. ''He's not the one who is responsible. We're all responsible, too.''