Bengals trade Orien Harris for Brian Leonard
The Cincinnati Bengals have traded defensive tackle Orien Harris to the St. Louis Rams for running back Brian Leonard yesterday.
Leonard, who was drafted in the second round by the Rams in 2007 as a fullback, had more than 4500 rushing yards while at Rutgers. He was an unselfish player that transitioned from running back to fullback when he was a senior and Ray Rice was a freshman.
The Bengals will use Leonard primarily as a third-down back.
Harris, who's the younger brother of tackle Kwame Harris, will work into the defensive tackle rotation with Darrell Scott in St. Louis behind starters Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan.
Leonard, who was drafted in the second round by the Rams in 2007 as a fullback, had more than 4500 rushing yards while at Rutgers. He was an unselfish player that transitioned from running back to fullback when he was a senior and Ray Rice was a freshman.
The Bengals will use Leonard primarily as a third-down back.
"I'm looking forward to that. I feel I've got a lot of skills. Catch the ball out of the backfield and run the ball," Leonard said. "I don't think I'm a regular, every-down fullback to just go in there and blow up, but if they want me to do that, that's what I'll do."Leonard has a much better opportunity to earn a starting job playing behind Cedric Benson in Cincinnati than he ever would have behind Steven Jackson in St. Louis.
Harris, who's the younger brother of tackle Kwame Harris, will work into the defensive tackle rotation with Darrell Scott in St. Louis behind starters Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan.
