Browns RB Jerome Harrison Is Preparing Himself for Bigger Role in 2010

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison is currently one of the Browns' unsigned restricted free agents, and one of the hottest names in fantasy football circles.  He is also preparing his body for the 2010 season.

Harrison may not be signed to a contract right now and he will most likely miss the Browns' OTAs when they start on May 17, but he has been diligently working out to get his body into tip-top shape for a bigger featured role in 2010.

In the final three games of the 2009 season, Harrison broke onto the scene to the tune of rushing for over 500 yards and broke Jim Brown's single game rushing record in franchise history.

A pretty big feat for a running back who hardly had any playing time in the first three-fourths of the 2009 season, with the exception of starting in place of Jamal Lewis against the Bengals early on, of which he ran well.

Many stories came from his 2009 struggles to see more playing time, one of the most interesting was that he did not go full speed in practices and until he had a sit down with head coach Eric Mangini.  Then Harrison did finally start to see the field.

Because the Browns drafted rookie running back Montario Hardesty, who reportedly looked fantastic and sharp in rookie minicamp, Harrison may be splitting some carries with the rook initially.

However, he will get the brunt of the load in the first couple weeks of the season while Hardesty adjusts to the speed of the pro game.

While still unsigned, Harrison has bulked up from his 2009 playing weight of 205 pounds to 212 pounds, according to a tweet by fellow unsigned teammate, Abram Elam.

"Look at Jerome Harrison he like 212lbs now...he thinks he 300lbs talk real gangsta just don't know imma bust his head in camp," tweeted Elam.

It appears that Elam feels confident that both players will be in training camp come August, even though neither are signed and Elam recently went to the media saying he wants a long-term deal.

Encouraging that Elam thinks he will be present along with Harrison, but only time will tell if they chose to sign or hold out.

Hopefully the later because the Browns could really use all the veterans they can have on a roster that has a lot of young and inexperienced players.

If Harrison's playing weight is around the 212 pounds as tweeted by Elam, then look for his body to be able to take more punishment along with the increased work load.

He has had some history of injuries, but the added bulk with help him take a pounding in between the tackles and from all the big-hitting safeties in the AFC North as well.

The Browns backfield was very thin one year ago when both James Davis and Lewis went out for the season, but now the backfield looks to have great depth with Harrison, Hardesty, Davis running the rock.

Along with some occasional handoffs to fullbacks Lawrence Vickers and Peyton Hillis.

Of course the Browns and Harrison need to find an agreement for either a one-year or longer contract, but hopefully that will be taken care of once training camp gets closer.