The Facts: Free agents Jason Snelling of Atlanta and to a lesser extent Jerome Harrison of Philadelphia are emerging as candidates for the backup running back job in St. Louis behind Steven Jackson, according to league sources.
Diehards Line:As Post-Dispatch staffer Jim Thomas notes, neither has the sizzle of a Reggie Bush or Darren Sproles, but Snelling and Harrison have shown they can handle a feature-back role when called upon -- something the Rams are in need of should Jackson go down for a couple of games with an injury. Snelling, 27, has big-back size (5-11, 223) and has been a productive pass-catcher as well. In 2009, when Falcons star Michael Turner missed five games because of injury, Snelling carried 142 times for 613 yards, a 4.3 average. Last season, he had only 87 carries, gaining 324 yards, but also caught 44 passes for 303 yards. Harrison, 28, is on the small side at 5-9, 205. Harrison's best season was 2009, when he rushed for 862 yards, including a Browns' single-game record 286 yards against Kansas City.