Last October, running backs Jerome Harrison and Mike Bell were traded for each other in a deal involving the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Harrison was sent to Philadelphia and Bell to Cleveland. On Tuesday morning, the two were signed by the Detroit Lions and now will be teammates, competing for a spot on the roster at running back that was opened up by a season-ending injury to Mikel Leshoure.
Harrison, a Kalamazoo native, spent 2006-09 and the first four games of 2010 in Cleveland. His best season came in 2009 when he rushed for 862 yards and five touchdowns on 194 attempts. He also had 220 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in '09.
Bell has played for the Broncos, Saints, Eagles and Browns. The two seasons that stand out for him are 2006 and 2009. In '06 he rushed for 677 yards and eight touchdowns and in '09 he had 654 yards and five touchdowns.
To create room on the roster to sign these two backs, the Lions released fullback Preston Dial and waived/injured cornerback Maurice Leggett. Dial was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama and Leggett joined the Lions after playing in Kansas City the last few years.