National Football League

Browns RB coach: Tension was high between Tate and West last year

Published Jun. 12, 2015 1:31 p.m. ET

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Browns running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery revealed Thursday that tensions were high in the backfield last year as Ben Tate battled for playing time with rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.

Tate signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract to become the bell cow in Cleveland, but things quickly unraveled when he was injured in the first game. Once West and Crowell proved capable in the run game, Tate's playing time diminished, and he wasn't happy about it.

"(Tate and West) would get into it, you know, in the locker room, just having words, and in the meeting room, and it takes away from what you are doing out on the field," Montgomery said, via Cleveland.com. "It becomes a distraction. It's a serious thing, it's a hard thing, but then you have to move on like we did and let these young guys grow."

Tate was released after eight games, paving the way for West and Crowell to share carries the rest of the season. Tate was claimed on waivers by Minnesota, but lasted just three games there. He finished the season with the Steelers, but is back on the market this offseason.

Montgomery said the addition of Duke Johnson hasn't let to any discord among the running backs.

"We have no personality problems," he said.

h/t: Cleveland.com