Are the Cleveland Browns eyeing free-agent Ray Rice to be one of their running backs?

Recently, the team's running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery expressed his frustration at the current condition of the young rushers, ESPN reported.

"How can you play and not want to be a starter?" Montgomery said.

Terrance West, Duke Johnson and Shaun Draughn are not in great shape, and it appears Isaiah Crowell has not impressed Montgomery either, so the situation can definitely affect the team's performance in the upcoming season.

"The disappointing thing was that all those guys approaching here and not being in tip-top shape. I think that was a total setback, and now they are climbing back uphill and that's why they're taking a back seat right now," Montgomery added.

With nobody stepping up to be the lead running back, isn't it time to get the services of seasoned running backs to lead the Browns?

The idea of getting a veteran RB has been discussed in the team, confirmed Browns coach Mike Pettine.

"We've talked about it, but I don't think we're there at this point," Pettine told Sports Illustrated.

Pettine admitted that Rice's name came up in their talks because the former Ravens RB was under Montgomery for six years when they were both in Baltimore. Pettine had also worked with Rice during his first year with the Ravens.

"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. 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," Pettine explained.

It appears Pettine still has faith in their existing running backs lineup since Montgomery is doing everything to ensure that the players will work hard to get the starter position. Thus, Pettine is firm on his stand to not get the services of a veteran running back, not yet anyway, and he is not thinking about the repercussions of possibly signing Rice.

Rice was suspended by the league due to leaked video showing him hitting his then-fiancée, Janay, while they were inside an elevator in Atlantic City.

Yet, if second-year players Crowell and West and rookie third-round pick Johnson do not step up, Rice may also be a good candidate for them.

After all, Rice is determined to come back. He said he has learned from his mistake and is now a "rehabilitated man," according to another ESPN article.

Second, he has proven that he and Montgomery can be a great tandem. Under the supervision of Montgomery, Rice tallied more than 1,100 rushing yards and 1,600 yards from scrimmage from 2009 to 2012, with his 9,214 yards from scrimmage since 2008 to 2013 placing him in the 4th spot overall in the league within that period, Sports Illustrated recalled. He was able to gain three Pro Bowl berths while Montgomery was coaching him.

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