Brian Dulik

The Chronicle-Telegram

BEREA — Jerome Harrison is on the verge of making Browns history, leading the team in both rushing and receiving with two games left in the season.

The last Cleveland player to pull off the impressive double was Earnest Byner in 1988, illustrating just how difficult — and painful — the feat is to accomplish.

“Man, I feel like a piñata right now,” Harrison said, rubbing his right hip for emphasis. “But it’s all good. I’m just happy for the opportunity I’m getting right now. That’s all any of us ask for.”

Harrison’s quest to impress continues Sunday, when the Browns host the Oakland Raiders in a 1 p.m. game. Cleveland (3-11) is riding a two-game winning streak, while the Raiders (5-9) have won three of their last five.

All eyes in the stadium, though, won’t be on Browns quarterback Derek Anderson or Oakland counterpart Charlie Frye, who once battled for the top job in Cleveland.

Instead, they’ll be focused on Harrison to see if he can top his team-record 286 rushing yards from Week 15. That performance against Kansas City was the third-best in NFL history, trailing only Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (296 in 2007) and Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis (295 in 2003).

Making it even more meaningful for Harrison, one of the first people who congratulated him after his three-touchdown day was current teammate Lewis, who is on injured reserve with post-concussion syndrome.

“I always talk to Jamal, he gave me the best advice anybody ever gave me,” said Harrison, who was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week on Christmas Day. “We talked after the game and he said, ‘Good game, now it’s back to work.’

“We also had a long talk after he was done for the year and we put some numbers to the side, and said this is where I need to get to be all right, to be on pace.”

Harrison has 587 rushing yards with a team-high 4.8 average per carry. Lewis gained 500 yards with a 3.5 average before suffering a season-ending head injury.

“J.C,” Harrison’s nickname in the Browns locker room, also owns 32 receptions, putting him two up on wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and nine ahead of two-way player Mike Furrey.

Whether he winds up leading the club in catches largely depends on Anderson, who tends to throw downfield much more than Brady Quinn.

Harrison’s rushing totals, though, are one part him and one part fullback Lawrence Vickers, who had a phenomenal day blocking the Chiefs.

“Me and J.C. have this chemistry because I look at myself as an extra offensive lineman for him,” said Vickers, whose 6-foot, 250-pound body is three inches and 45 pounds bigger than Harrison. “I tell him, ‘Let me help you, that’s what I’m here for.’ All he needs is a little light and he’ll take care of the rest.

“I had a couple pancakes (blocks) for him in Kansas City. I just needed the syrup.”

According to tackle Joe Thomas, the Browns only ran a handful of running plays in their 41-34 win over the Chiefs. They didn’t need to dig deeper in the playbook because Harrison and Vickers kept making the basic sets work.

“When there are nine men in the box, it’s on the running back to make someone miss, and Jerome did,” Thomas said.

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll confirmed that strategy, saying, “J.C. made some nice cuts. We only ran about six different (plays) that game, and they were all out of the same formation.

“At halftime, we said let’s put a couple of counters to these plays, which we didn’t even really practice during the week. The second play was the one he hit back for the 71-yarder (touchdown).”

Browns fans should expect a similar game plan this week, seeing as the weather is expected to be cold and windy on the lakefront. Daboll will get no complaints from Harrison if he gives him 34 more carries this week.

“That’s fine with me,” Harrison said, smiling. “Don’t worry, I’ll be ready to go. I’ve got all the offseason to rest up.”

 

Injury update

Cleveland listed starting right tackle John St. Clair (ankle) as doubtful on its final pregame injury report, while designating defensive ends Robaire Smith (groin) and Corey Williams (thigh), and safety Ray “Bubba” Ventrone (finger) questionable.

Defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee, elbow, illness) was upgraded to probable after sitting out practice Thursday. …

Oakland wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and Nick Miller (shin) are both out, while running back Justin Fargas (knee) and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (knee) were listed as doubtful.

 

On the clock

The Browns/Raiders game will not be shown on local television if it isn’t sold out by 1 p.m. today. Because of the Christmas holiday, the NFL granted Cleveland a 48-hour extension to sell the several thousand remaining seats.

Fans can purchase tickets at the Cleveland Browns Stadium box office from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or through Ticketmaster.

“Our fans have been great throughout the course of the season,” Mangini said. “It’s been loud, and they’ve endured quite a bit of cold when we played Pittsburgh (on Dec. 10). I am excited to have them there and look forward to seeing them there.”

 

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com

 

 

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