It surely looks like the Ray Rice saga won't end until he either signs with a team or retires. Fresh off the controversial former Baltimore Ravens running back giving an in-depth interview to ESPN's Outside the Lines, there are reports coming out of Cleveland that the Browns have had internal discussions about the 28-year-old running back.
According to Sports Illustrated's Don Banks, Browns head coach Mike Pettine admitted that the team has discussed bringing Rice in:
“We’ve talked about it, but I don’t think we’re there at this point,” the head coach said. "Of course it’s a natural question here because of (Browns running backs coach) Wilbert (Montgomery), and because I was with Ray when he was a Ravens rookie (in 2008) and know a lot of people in Baltimore."
Pettine, in his second season as the Browns head coach, served as an assistant with the Ravens from 2002-2008 before taking over as the Jets defensive coordinator in 2009. Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery coached Rice in the same capacity from 2008-2013. The connections are most definitely there.
In addition to this, the Browns have not been impressed with the three young running backs currently vying for touches. Rookie Duke Johnson has been sidelined the past 11 days with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, second-year running backs Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West have not impressed the coaching staff. Pettine went as far to conclude that it was disappointing that all three didn't show up to camp in great shape.
Outside of the potential PR disaster signing Rice might bring, all three of the running backs listed above offer higher upside. Remember, Rice averaged just 3.1 yards per rush in his last real playing time back in 2013. That's likely the primary reason he's still unsigned.
Though, Pettine did attempt to quiet some nerves later in the conversation with SI:
"I’m not going to say it didn’t come up in discussion, but at this point we’re not there yet.”
We likely won't hear much more on this front unless the Browns' trio of running backs fail to impress moving forward during camp and in the preseason. Players of Rice's ilk are not usually signed until injuries occur or internal options fail to impress.
It's still something to keep an eye on.