Who's number one? Running back Jerome Harrison ended last season with the idea that he would come into camp as the top dog. All he did was end last season with a 561-yard three-game flourish that ranked among the best in NFL history. And Scott Petrak writes on northcoastnow.com that the only reward Harrison received was a one-year contract tender from...
Jerome Harrsion Who's number one?
Running back Jerome Harrison ended last season with the idea that he would come into camp as the top dog. All he did was end last season with a 561-yard three-game flourish that ranked among the best in NFL history.
And Scott Petrak writes on northcoastnow.com that the only reward Harrison received was a one-year contract tender from the team rather than a long-term deal. And the Browns made a draft-day trade to move up in the second round to take Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty.
New general manager Tom Heckert had sent the message that he didn’t trust Harrison to last a season as the No. 1 back.
The conventional wisdom of NFL decision-makers is that the smaller the running back, the greater the odds of injury. Therefore, it’s less likely he can carry the rushing load for an entire season.
“I don’t get tired of hearing it,” Harrison, 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds — about 2 inches and 20 pounds less than the ideal running back — said this week at Browns training camp. “It’s because of my size. “When big running backs get hurt, it’s OK, it’s fine. When a little running back gets hurt, he’s injury-prone and this and that. You just laugh at stuff like that because it really doesn’t make any sense.”
NFL concussions
Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich writes about the violent nature of football and how those violent collisions define the game.
But when Browns training camp opened, the consensus among players was that progress is being made.
''I think there have been some great steps taken in the last year,'' said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the NFL Player Association's executive committee. ''Obviously, this is an issue that has been at the forefront for the last couple of years. But this is the first time I think everyone is starting to look at it a little more seriously. It's nice that the league might finally be acknowledging the fact that there could be a connection between professional football and post-career head trauma 'cause for the longest time they denied that link.
''I think [it was important] last year up on Capitol Hill when you see Rep. Maxine Waters from California basically saying you sound like the cigarette companies back in the '80s denying the link. I mean that's how ridiculous it was. So the fact that there's starting to be some acknowledgement of that is a good thing, and I think it's a step in the right direction.''
No place like home
Receiver Chansi Stuckey is more comfortable as a member of the Browns this season, especially since its his first training camp with the Browns.
He joined the team last fall following a trade between the Browns and the New York Jets. This is Stuckey's fourth year in the league.
Theresa Neuhoff Audia of The News-Herald writes how it was a rocky year last season for Stuckey after he was traded. It took him time to get adjusted.
"It took a lot for me. It was a big maturation process. I think I grew as a person, as a man. It helped me to be able to train better for training camp this year."
In 11 games with the Browns he had 19 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown.
"I am more comfortable this year," Stuckey said. "I know the guys, I have a home to go to. It's a great feeling."