Farmer cool on adding Ray Rice
Browns ‘focused on’ the running backs they have, GM says.
Prior to Thursday CLEVELAND— night’s preseason opener against the Redskins, one in which Browns running backs Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West rushed eight times for 16 total yards, owner Jimmy Haslam told ESPN he would be OK with his team adding Ray Rice.
Rice remains without a team after being released by the Baltimore Ravens last September, the day the shocking elevator surveillance camera footage of his attack on his then-fianceé surfaced.
Haslam said he’s leaving the decision to general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine.
“Right now I’d say it’s all premature in my mind,” Farmer said. “We’re interested in seeing what our young guys can do. Focused on them. Giving them the opportunity to demonstrate whether they can or they can’t.
“I think we’ve got some talented young guys. Ray’s had his career. We kind of know what he is. We think we know.
There’s a lot of tape.”
Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry with the Ravens in 2013, but revealed recently he played through a nagging hip injury.
Apologetic and remorseful during an interview with ESPN recently, Rice understands the challenges of getting back in the NFL, but is hoping to get another opportunity to write a different ending to his NFL career.
Even though Pettine and Farmer have downplayed an interest, it will be tough to quell the speculation. On Sunday, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery called out his backs, telling reporters that none of the players in the room has shown an ambition to win the starting job. Montgomery also lamented the players’ conditioning.
West and Crowell, who spent time last year in Pettine’s doghouse because of attitude issues, continue to frustrate. Rookie Duke Johnson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, which happened on Aug. 1.
“It’s a long preseason,” Pettine said Thursday after the 20-17 loss to Washington. “Obviously, Terrance coming off the injury and Crow probably having too heavy a load at practice, I’m not going to hit the panic button after the first preseason game
about our run game. We will be fine.”
Behind a talented offensive line, and with journeyman Josh McCown at quarterback, the Browns are hoping to make the rushing attack the focal point of the offense. But Crowell and West have failed to distinguish themselves.
Manziel ‘pretty solid’: Johnny Manziel relieved McCown late in the first quarter and produced one touchdown in five series in Thursday’s 20-17 loss. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 42 yards and was sacked once, finishing with a 71.0 rating. He ran twice for 14 yards, which led the team in rushing, including a 12-yard score.
“Thought he was pretty solid,” Pettine said Friday. “Made some mistakes, but all of our guys did. I thought he progressed from the (intrasquad) scrimmage (last week in Columbus).”
But Manziel went three-and-out three times and five-and-out once. He didn’t convert a third down by passing. His touchdown came after Johnson Bademosi’s recovery of a fumbled punt return set the Browns up at Washington’s 36.