Nobody has counted how many times Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur has spoken of his intolerance for fumbles. It certainly runs into the dozens.
So when he held healthy Montario Hardesty out of practice on Sunday, one wonders if it was a punishment for the running back fumbling the ball away in the loss to Philadelphia on Friday night.
It was his second fumble of the preseason.
Hardesty was wearing a sleeve on his right leg, but he referred to his absence as a "day off" and added that he was fine. He also admitted that he spoke with Shurmur.
"We both know those are my first two fumbles in the NFL," he said. "But you can't put the ball on the ground."
Those fumbles might have cost Hardesty the backup job to starter Trent Richardson. He was among the first to be pulled from the game against the Eagles after rushing for just 12 yards on eight carries and missing a key block on a screen that resulted in a strip-sack of QB Brandon Weeden.
Hardesty was replaced by Brandon Jackson, who rushed for 34 yards on seven carries and ran with confidence and conviction. Hardesty had been listed second on the depth chart, but that could change this week.
Jackson stressed his emphasis on ball security. He said he used to hold the ball like a loaf of bread a la Deion Sanders in high school, but screaming from coaches after a fumble in a college scrimmage changed his perspective in a hurry.
"I was always taught to hold the ball to your chest and protect it," he said. "I never lost a fumble with the Packers. When in traffic you hold in with two hands and in the open field you hold it high and tight. You have to take care of the ball like it's a carton of eggs."
The backup spot might prove relatively inconsequential if Richardson remains healthy. The rookie is expected to return from arthroscopic knee surgery this week.
Shurmur said he's "very optimistic" he will be ready to play the season opener against Philadelphia.
The backup could receive more playing time early in the season as they they give Richardson more frequent breathers. But when he returns to full health, Richardson is unlikely to be removed on third downs. He will be an integral part of the Browns passing game.
Meanwhile, Weeden is learning the same lesson as Hardesty about holding on to the ball. He has fumbled three times in five quarters, including twice against Philadelphia, and has lost two. He is clearly not accustomed to the pass pressure in the NFL as a quarterback who plays almost exclusively under center.
"I was seven or eight yards deep in college," he said. "I'm used to stepping up and getting the ball out quick in the shotgun."
Weeden added that it was particularly difficult to hold on to the ball when linemen and linebackers are trying to strip it from behind. It's a scenario that can't be duplicated when he's wearing a red "hands-off" jersey in practice.
"You just have to have a death grip on [the ball]," he said. "Guys are taught to go for the football coming from behind and they're strong. ... It's not something I'm going to lose a lot of sleep over, but I'm going to take it seriously."
So is Shurmur.
Stay dialed in on the Cleveland Browns on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLCLE throughout the season with on-site updates from CBSSports.com RapidReports correspondent Marty Gitlin.
