ATLANTA – Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison Wednesday for using a cell phone to try to set up a cocaine deal about 4 years ago.

The penalty, worked out with prosecutors in October, should allow Lewis to return to the Ravens well before the start of the 2005 season. At most, he could miss the opening of training camp.

He also will spend two months in a halfway house and perform 500 hours of community service following his prison term.

Lewis pleaded guilty to trying to set up the drug deal a few months after the Ravens chose him No. 5 overall in the 2000 NFL draft. No drugs ever exchanged hands.

Prosecutors agreed to drop more serious drug conspiracy and attempted cocaine possession charges.

“I’m truly sorry for what I did,” Lewis said to U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans.

Explaining the short sentence, the judge said the government didn’t have a strong case and noted the only witness against Lewis was an informant with a lengthy criminal record.

Evans said she was also giving Lewis “credit for stepping up to the bar” and admitting his guilt.

Cowher denies QB broke toes

PITTSBURGH – Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was exaggerating when he said he broke two toes on his right foot during the AFC championship game, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher said Wednesday.

Roethlisberger told reporters Tuesday he wore down physically during the lengthy NFL season and broke two toes while scrambling late in the first half of the 41-27 loss to the New England Patriots.

Cowher seemed irritated Roethlisberger would go public with such a claim, that, in effect, suggested the Steelers gambled with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year’s health by playing him when he was hurt.

“We are unaware of any problems with his toes, OK?” Cowher said.

Roethlisberger didn’t specify which toes were broken and wasn’t walking with an apparent limp Monday or Tuesday.

“Ben does not have broken toes,” Cowher said, talking publicly for the first time since Sunday night, when the Steelers lost an AFC title game for the fourth time in 11 seasons. “At the end of the first half, while scrambling, he aggravated some toes he has broken in the past, in high school and college.”

Cowher said the injury was never mentioned during his meeting with Roethlisberger on Monday and nothing showed up during the rookie’s physical exam Tuesday.

Tollner, Mariucci back together

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions hired Ted Tollner as offensive coordinator on Wednesday, reuniting him with head coach Steve Mariucci.

The 64-year-old Tollner replaces Sherman Lewis, who retired after the 2004 regular season.

Tollner was offensive coordinator for San Francisco last year and quarterbacks coach for the 49ers from 2002-2003. Mariucci’s last season as head coach of the Niners was 2002.

Tollner has had an extensive career in the NFL and college football, serving as head coach at San Diego State from 1994-01 and at Southern California from 1983-86.

Mariucci was an assistant under Tollner for a season at USC.

– By The Associated Press