The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Free agency looming for Crowell
Isaiah Crowell
POSITION » Running back HEIGHT, WEIGHT » 5-foot-11, 225 pounds BIRTHDATE » Jan. 8, 1993 YEARS PRO » Fourth season COLLEGE » Alabama State RANKING » Third of 25 CROWELL’S BACKGROUND » Ray Farmer did not make many good decisions in his brief two years as Browns general manager, but one of his best moves was signing Isaiah Crowell after no team took the muscular running back in the 2014 draft.
The reason Crowell wasn’t drafted had nothing to do with ability. He was a discipline problem at Georgia. He got kicked off the team after being arrested on various weapons charges, including possession of a weapon in a school zone. He also failed a drug test at Georgia.
Crowell gave the Browns no problem in the first two years, but then before the start of last season he posted a picture of a masked assailant using a machete to slit the throat of a police officer. He apologized and donated his first paycheck of 2016 in the amount of $35,000 to the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation. His apology seemed sincere, and fans eventually forgave him – especially after he rushed for 133 yards against the Ravens in the second week of the season.
Crowell spoke with youngsters at his elementary, middle school and high school about the value of second chances and how important it is not to squander them.
WHY CROWELL IS RANKED THIRD » The Browns want to run the ball more than they did last season when their 350 rushing attempts matched the Lions for the fewest in the league. Crowell is definitely the workhorse for Coach Hue Jackson, who called plays last year and will again this season. Crowell is the centerpiece of that strategy, which arguably makes him the most important player on offense after the quarterback.
2016 RECAP » Crowell rushed for 952 yards last season – the most by a Browns running back since Peyton Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards in 2011. He averaged 4.8 yards a carry, which is remarkable considering in seven games he averaged less than 3 yards a try. He scored seven rushing touchdowns and caught a career best 40 passes (his previous high was 19) for 319 yards.
WHY CROWELL IS IMPORTANT IN 2017 » It would be short-sighted to say the Browns signed center JC Tretter and right guard Kevin Zeitzer in free agency just so Crowell can be a more effective runner, but he certainly should benefit from the investment. If he can rush for close to 1,000 yards behind last year’s offensive line while on a team that won only one game, he can be a force if the Browns can keep scores close.
PREDICTION FOR 2017 » The prediction is this will be the last season Crowell wears a Browns uniform. He signed his tender as a restricted free agent so he can become an unrestricted free agent next winter. He will go wherever he can get the most money, which is a great motivator for this season.