By Harry R. Weber
The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty Thursday to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug deal and will be sentenced to four months in prison, to be served after the regular season ends in January.

Lewis still could be suspended this season by the NFL, which said Thursday it would have no immediate decision on any punishment.

"We will review the court documents from today's proceedings and announce a decision on league discipline as soon as possible, perhaps as early as (today)," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Team sources told The Baltimore Sun that Lewis is expected to be suspended for two games by the NFL today.

The league's punishment will sideline Lewis for the Oct. 24 game against Buffalo and the Oct. 31 game at Philadelphia, the team sources, which were not identified, said Thursday.

"I made a mistake four years ago, when I was 20 years old, that I am paying heavily for," Lewis said outside the courthouse after his plea.

Sentencing was set for Jan. 26. The Super Bowl is Feb. 6.

Lewis, 25, pleaded guilty to a crime he committed more than four years ago. Under the plea agreement, which includes an additional two months in a halfway house and 500 hours of community service, drug conspiracy and attempted cocaine possession charges will be dropped.

Lewis faced at least 10 years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy charge, but as a first-time offender he probably would have received a shorter sentence.

His trial had been scheduled to start Nov. 1.

Lewis was accused of helping broker a cocaine deal for co-defendant Angelo Jackson, a childhood friend, during conversations with a government informant in Atlanta during the summer of 2000.

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