Montario Hardesty Makes RBs a Tough Roster Spot for Cleveland Browns

With Montario Hardesty in camp and competing for a job, Team President Mike Holmgren's "pile" of running backs now is overflowing.

Along with Hardesty, the Browns also have Jerome Harrison, Lawrence Vickers, Peyton Hillis, Chris Jennings, James Davis, and Thomas Brown.

Obviously feeling the pressure, Harrison and Vickers have returned to camp despite not having signed contracts.

The fact is, there only are so many roster spots, and the Browns currently have more running backs than they will be able to carry once the season starts.

You can cross Brown off the list unless he somehow has the best training camp ever, if he even makes it that far.

Brown most likely was brought in to help carry the load in the absence of Harrison and Vickers.

Harrison has proven he can do what head coach Eric Mangini wants, plus the Browns are offering him a contract. Along with Vickers, these two should make the team, provided they sign their contracts and aren't injured in the preseason.

Hillis was acquired in the trade that sent Brady Quinn to Denver, so he'd have to really screw up not to make the roster.

This really only realistically leaves one roster spot left, and that means either Davis or Jennings will be looking for work elsewhere at the end of preseason.

Jennings performed adequately for Mangini last year, but showed nothing to make anyone say, "Wow, we need to keep that guy!"

In nine games in 2009, Jennings carried the ball 63 times for 220 yards and one touchdown. Not exactly irreplaceable numbers.

Davis was impressive during preseason last year, but an injury in Week One, followed by another injury in practice the following week, ended his season.

Davis will have to show he's rebounded from that injury and that keeping him off the roster would be a huge mistake. Davis has to prove to Mangini he's caught up to the speed of the pro game and can take a hit.

With the upgrades to the right side of the Browns offensive line, the Browns running game should be noteworthy in 2010. It's not unreasonable to say at this point in June the Browns will have two 1,000-yard rushers by the end of the season.

No one has put pads on yet, obviously, but on paper, the running game should be nothing to worry about in 2010.