Free agent running back Jamal Lewis agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, a person within the NFL told the Associated Press last night.

Lewis was released last week in a salary-cap move by Baltimore, which elected not to pay their career rushing leader a $5 million roster bonus. He’ll now join the Browns, Baltimore’s AFC North rival, who were last in the league in rushing in 2006.

Lewis visited the Browns on Wednesday and decided to sign with the team before leaving town, said the person who has knowledge of the negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the 27-year-old Lewis hasn’t signed yet. With the Ravens reportedly interested in acquiring Buffalo running back Willis McGahee, Lewis decided to look elsewhere and found a fit with the Browns — the team he torched for an NFL-record 295 yards in 2003.

Lewis spent the afternoon at the Browns’ facilities in suburban Berea, meeting with general manager Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel. Lewis, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, is an upgrade at running back for the Browns, who now have to figure out what to do with feature back Reuben Droughns. They owe Droughns a $1.75 million roster bonus later this month.