Cleveland Browns: Jerome Harrison's Preseason Fumbles Do Not Bode Well

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison has many critics regarding his size, durability, and, now, his ability to hold onto the football.

The 2009 breakout runner should have his starting job locked up and without question, but in all honesty, he does not after three preseason games and 2009 season-ending 550-plus yard performances.

The fact that the Browns' front office went out and traded for Peyton Hillis from Denver, and spent three draft picks to trade back into the second round to select Montario Hardesty out of Tennessee, should have been clues as to the faith the Browns really have in Harrison as their featured back.

Then there was Harrison's hold out and refusal to sign his restricted free-agent tender, which caused him to miss enough of the offseason programs to instantly shrine Hardesty and get a ton of press locally in Cleveland due to his instant progression to the pro game.

Harrison ended his hold out and put his contract differences aside when Hardesty kept getting all the first team reps in his absence; a great decision on Harrison's part to participate in the offseason program

But Harrison's tardiness might not be enough to secure his starter status because now he keeps fumbling the ball and has two fumbles in three games this preseason; adding another notch as to why they should not start Harrison this upcoming season.

Is this alone enough to back the thought of not making Harrison the starter?

That all rides on the shoulders of Hardesty in the fourth and final preseason game, since it is rumored that he will play a lot in the final game to prepare for the regular season.

Having Hardesty play in the fourth game is a good sign for his health and the hope he will be ready for this season, but this is a bad thing for Harrison and all others on the runningback depth chart whose last names are not Hillis.

If Hardesy can immediately pick up where he left off in the offseason programs and make an impact in the final preseason game, there is a chance that Harrison will lose his starter spot to either Hardesty or Hillis, who has also proven himself to be a versatile weapon not only running, but catching and blocking too.

Hillis would be the dark horse to be the Browns' starter though, and this is really a competition between Harrison and Hardesty to get the majority of the carries this season.

Finally, an interesting scenario has been brought up by another featured columnist on Bleacher Report saying that since Harrison only signed a one-year tender he could be trade bait before the Week 6 deadline since the Browns seem more focused on Hardesty and Hillis over Harrison.

Whatever the case may be, Harrison needs to play flawless football in order to maintain his position at the top of the depth chart and he cannot start fumbling the ball as he has been doing this preseason, because the Browns are deep at the position and there are two other runners breathing down Harrison's neck to take over as the full-time starter.

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