Written by Dave Kolonich

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Depending on your perspective, the signing of Montario Hardesty is either the only happening on a slow Wednesday – or marks the beginning of a compelling new chapter in Browns’ history.

Browns and Hardesty Agree to Terms

On one hand Hardesty appears to be the most NFL-ready back the Browns have unearthed in years – but on the other – who exactly is he being compared to?

After all, the franchise whose legacy was cemented by the game’s greatest running back and current pseudo-shaman has not produced much of a ground attack in say….just a shade over forty years.

Of course, there have some blips along the way.  

I’m pretty sure the 1970’s Browns didn’t exist – call it a post-Jim Brown and Paul Brown malaise ended temporarily by Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner’s historical 1985 season….which was followed by Jesus, Reuben Droughns and a couple of years of Jamal Lewis?

 

Do you now see why most of us are excited about Hardesty?

Although Hardesty’s padless offseason debut has been endlessly hyped – perhaps in an attempt to inspire Jerome Harrison – there are two legitimate reasons to believe that there is more substance to be found here, rather than mere potential.

1.  Hardesty is good.

2.  Just look at the following history.

Category 1: The Ghosts of Browns’ Running Back Potential Past

Somewhere at an undisclosed Cleveland Heights location, the following Browns’ backs gather for a banquet, where the main course is a huge helping of “could have been.”

Chris Barclay

Madre Hill

Ben Gay

William Green

James Jackson

Lee Suggs

Of course, it’s easy to laugh now.  Or, is it painful?  One of the two.

Anyway, admit it – like the most of Browns Nation, there was a moment where we all thought that we could be watching the next big thing in Cleveland.  Remember the expansion hype regarding Madre Hill?  Or, the legend of Ben Gay?  Or, Chris Barclay’s speed?  William Green’s run against Atlanta?  James Jackson’s supreme confidence?  Lee Suggs’ one-game career?

And don’t act like you weren’t ready to annoit James Davis as the next great Browns’ back last year after his 80-yard dash against Detroit.

Category 2: Featured Backs

Karim Abdul-Jabbar

Terry Kirby

Errict Rhett

Jamel White

If you’re still suspicious of where Hardesty will eventually fit in Cleveland, here’s some good news – at least he’ll have some better blockers than these four….along with featuring some skills that should actually translate to the league.

Category 3: The Joke’s on Us

Adinchinobe Echemandu

Curtis Enis

Travis Prentice

Rashaan Salaam

Jason Wright

Although I’ve tried about a thousand times over the past few months, I cannot stress the importance of having a quality team of management running the franchise.  If you recall, all of the above names received some hype comparable to the kind that Hardesty is currently enjoying.  Even though you may not be fully committed to “Belive-land”, it’s worth at least considering.

Category 4: The New Legends

Jamal Lewis

Reuben Droughns

Not to take away anything from the efforts of Droughns and Lewis, but if this is the bar that Hardesty must hurdle, then clearly the Browns have turned a corner as a franchise.

Just take a look.

Category 5: Precious Depth

Monterio Hardesty

Jerome Harrison

Peyton Hillis

James Davis

Compared to the previous lists, isn’t this the stuff that dreams are made of?

Or, at least consistency?