Browns’ Harrison hopes hard work pays off with more plays

BEREA (AP) — Once Cleveland Browns minicamp ends, the hard work begins for tailbacks Jamal Lewis and James Harrison.

Lewis returns to Atlanta every summer and embarks on a rigid training program that includes cycling, swimming and boxing, along with the more traditional running and lifting.

Three years ago, he began taking Harrison, the Browns’ fifth-round pick in 2006.

“The first day I worked out with him, I almost died,” Harrison said. “When I saw him the first time, I was sitting there like, ‘I can’t believe this big guy is moving like that.’ I died and he was still working.

“He thought I wasn’t coming back. I just kept coming back.”

Harrison has shown that resiliency with the Browns, too. Entering his fourth year, he has been receiving the bulk of the work with the starters while Lewis recovers from offseason ankle surgery.

“You’ve got to cherish every rep you get,” Harrison said. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”

He has already made an impression on new Browns coach Eric Mangini, who compared the 5-foot-9 Harrison to New York Jets tailback Leon Washington.

Washington and Harrison are nearly identical in size. Washington backed up Thomas Jones last year, rushing for 448 yards and six touchdowns under Mangini. Harrison, whose 246 yards last season were a career high, could hold a similar role with the Browns.

“I think Jerome has had an outstanding group of camps,” Mangini said. “His ability to pick up the protections and run routes out of the backfield, he reminds me a lot of Leon as Leon got more opportunities, the way he embraced it.

“I have been very pleased with him in all aspects: running, catching, protection and the way he works on the field and the way he works in the classroom. He has done a great job.”

Harrison is the last player to score an offensive touchdown for the Browns, and it came on a 72-yard run on Nov. 17. Cleveland failed to score an offensive TD in its last six games, which is part of the reason Romeo Crennel was replaced by Mangini.

With Jones and Washington, the Jets finished ninth in the NFL last year in rushing, while the Browns were 26th.

Finding a way to get both Lewis and the speedy Harrison on the field might help change that. Harrison set the single-season mark by rushing for 1,900 yards as a senior at Washington State, but has struggled to get on the field consistently with the Browns.

The former regime was critical of Harrison’s ability to pick up blitzers, something Mangini praised this week. With talk of expanding Pro Bowl return man Josh Cribbs’ role on both offense and defense, the Browns could be in need of more return men. Harrison has already seen time on both the punt and kickoff return teams this summer.

Lewis is all for the competition.

He broke into the league with Baltimore and Priest Holmes as his mentor. He has taken on the same role with Harrison and Browns rookie James Davis.

“With me, it’s not just about being the starting tailback,” Lewis said. “I work hard and my main thing is I hope you can bring in someone as good or better than me because it’s all about competing. If you don’t have somebody for me to compete with, then how can I better myself?”

Lewis isn’t sure how much longer he will play. His career has been rejuvenated since joining the Browns, and he’ll turn 30 in August. His next carry will be the 2,400th of his career.