The Cleveland Browns are not ready to hit the panic just yet. While the team is dealing with some unwanted injuries heading into their first preseason game, additions to the roster are not in the works, but they could be sooner rather than later. The Browns are hopeful that the depth they built in the offseason is enough to withstand the year, but with injuries hitting hard in training camp, could the Browns pull the trigger on a deal for some marquee players on the free agent market?
Earlier in the offseason, ESPN's John Clayton reported the Cleveland Browns were a potential landing spot for Ray Rice. The former Baltimore Ravens running back has been sitting on the open market hoping someone is willing to take a chance on him after his domestic violence charges. Since then, reports have surfaced that Rice has been calling teams about a potential deal while doing media interviews to try and clear his image. Are the Browns really listening?
Head coach Mike Pettine told the media on Tuesday that the Browns have considered signing Rice, but are not at the point of getting a deal done just yet. The Browns added Duke Johnson to their young rotation of running backs with Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell. However, things are not going well as both West and Johnson deal with injuries and Crowell is having fumbling issues. Pettine noted that there were concerns in the ground game, but he is not panicked just yet.
"Of course it's a natural question here because of Wilbert, and because I was with Ray when he was a Ravens rookie and know a lot of people in Baltimore," Pettine said, via SI.com. "Obviously Wilbert was his position coach for Ray's first six years in the league. I'm not going to say it didn't come up in discussion, but at this point we're not there yet."
Wilbert Montgomery was the former running back coach for the Baltimore Ravens when Rice was there. He then took over the position with the Browns and has been critical of the players the team has right now. Montgomery told the media via the Cleveland Plain Dealer that no one wants to be a starter for the Browns this season while saying players reported out of shape and not focused. His relationship with Rice could be the deciding factor to whether Rice signs.
If Cleveland is truly concerned about their running back rotation, but does not want the media headache Rice would bring, players like Steven Jackson, Pierre Thomas and Chris Johnson remain on the open market. With injuries to players like Terrelle Pryor and Dwayne Bowe also hitting during training camp, getting another player maker to the roster is not a bad call. Whether it is Rice or not remains to be seen.
