Browns' Mike Pettine says team has discussed signing Ray Rice

The Cleveland Browns are looking for someone to step up at running back, but if no one currently on the roster does, free agent Ray Rice may be an option.

"We've talked about it, but I don't think we're there at this point," head coach Mike Pettine said of signing Rice.

Pettine called the fit "natural" because of he and running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery's familiarity with Rice from their time with the Baltimore Ravens.

"Of course it's a natural question here because of Wilbert, and because I was with Ray when he was a Ravens rookie (in 2008) and know a lot of people in Baltimore," Pettine said. "Obviously Wilbert was his position coach for Ray's first six years in the league (2008–13). I'm not going to say it didn't come up in discussion, but at this point we're not there yet."

Montgomery has been vocal about the lack of drive from the talented stable of young running backs the Browns currently have on the roster. Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, and Duke Johnson have all been put on notice.