Lawrence Vickers Reports To OTAs: Are Browns RFAs Feeling Pressure of Teammates?

Everyone should know by now that the Cleveland Browns have the most unsigned restricted free agents (RFAs) of any other NFL team with five. All were starters in 2009.

The list includes: running back Jerome Harrison, fullback Lawrence Vickers, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, safety Abram Elam and linebacker Matt Roth.

Jackson, Elam and Roth all have vocally told the Browns and the media that they want long-term deals and Roth also said if he cannot get one then he wants to get traded.

Both Harrison and Vickers have been silent and Harrison even began showing up for organized training activities (OTAs) while still unsigned last week.

When Harrison showed up, it appeared he was leading by example for all the other unsigned RFAs, or he was feeling the pressure of hearing how well rookie running back Montario Hardesty was adapting to the pro game.

News from Cleveland.com says that Vickers has also shown up for OTAs on June 7, which is the second to last OTA practice until mandatory mini camp begins from June 10-12.

Since Vickers in now practicing with the rest of the team, one could also assume that he too felt the pressure of all the reports coming from the media that new fullback/halfback Peyton Hillis was getting acclimated to the Browns' offense.

Obviously, these are only guesses, but you put two and two together and it is a bit obvious that both Harrison and Vickers are smart enough to see that they do not want to miss out on their chances to stay on the top of the depth chart.

Whatever the real reason is, they are both still unsigned and hopefully their attendance at OTAs is a sign they may be close to signing their RFA tender contract.

Head Coach Eric Mangini has told the media the 2010 Browns will be a run heavy offense and having both Harrison and Vickers on board for the season makes the running game much better with them than without them.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: THE Cleveland Browns Blog.)