One of the items on Florio’s checklist for the Browns was to find a running back that can take some carries from Peyton Hillis. The Browns hope that an option already on the roster steps up.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer on Monday that he expects Hardesty to be ready to go when training camp starts. (Everybody now: “If it starts!”) Hardesty is coming off a torn ACL, but it was only a year ago Browns coaches were gushing about his smarts and future as the team’s bell cow.
Shurmur has spent plenty of time learning about his roster during the lockout and likes what he sees.
“I feel like the systems that we’re teaching are time-proven. I’m not going to be predicting, but I feel like we’ve got the foundations of a good team,” Shurmur said.
All new coaches are going to say that, but in this case we agree. Eric Mangini did not leave the cupboard bare. With a schedule that includes the NFC West this year, the Browns have a good chance to sneak up on teams.