Jerome Harrison Traded

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b53955/article/harrison-on-downfall-with-browns-it-was-mindboggling?module=HP_headlines

The above story is just a short piece on how Jerome Harrison was completely surprised by his trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Philadelphia Eagles.

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My first reaction when I saw this headline was, "WHAT?" Jerome Harrison was the man for the Browns at the end of the 2009 season. In the last three games that year Harrison ran for 586 yards on 106 carries (5.29 yds/carry).  And in the only other game where he received more than 20 carries (week 4 against Cincinnati) he ran for 121 yards and also caught five balls for 31 yards!

Everything pointed towards Harrison being the starting tailback in Cleveland in 2010.  A slight hitch was put in this plan when the Browns drafted Montario Hardesty in the April draft, but when he was hurt for the season in training camp the road was clear for Harrison to start.

Then something funny happened on opening day this football season, Harrison split carries evenly with Peyton Hillis, whom the Browns had traded for in March of this year. 

Being a fantasy owner of Harrison I had no idea what the reason was for the split but I, and most Browns fans, must have felt some relief when in Week 2 of this season Harrison carried the ball 16 times against the only eight carries for Hillis.  But, in those 16 carries Harrison did only rush for 33 yards.

Then the beginning of the end Harrison's tenure in Cleveland began.  After being ruled inactive for the week three matchup against Baltimore Harrsion had to watch while Peyton Hillis ran for 144 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown, while catching seven balls for 36 yards.  Then in week four Harrison was inactive again, and Hillis again posted 100+ yardage with another touchdown against Cincinnati.

In week five Hillis did not have a great week rushing for only 28 yards on ten carries but that didn't stop the Browns from trading Harrison for Mike Bell.

So while Harrison underperformed this season (he was never really given a chance), and his replacement played great in his stead (only two games), is that enough of a reason to trade him to the Eagles for a running back that has no more upside than him?

Both runners are free agents after this season, and the difference in their salaries is negligent.  So the answer is something that all of us fans, and fantasy owners hate to hear.  There is something the Cleveland Browns know that we don't.  Maybe Harrison is more hurt than were led to believe (and that the Browns hope the Eagles can't discover), or maybe he was a "locker room cancer."

The good thing is that the reason for trades like this (remember Randy Moss, and his locker room tirade that was discovered days after he was traded from New England to Minnesota?) is always eventually revealed, and we'll all find out in time.

But for now it looks to me like the Browns are putting way too much stock in Peyton Hillis because he had two good games.  Jerome Harrison has shown the ability to be a good runner over a full season (2009 - 194 carries), something Hillis has never done--he has never even carried the ball more than 68 times in either of his two professional seasons.

We'll just have to wait for this deal to make sense...because it sure doesn't now.

If you read this article and you have any insight that can help clear this up, please feel free to comment.