NJ.com's Manish Mehta profiles Shonn Greene's fumble problem.
Greene’s resume at Iowa wasn’t littered with fumbles – he coughed it up just twice in 307 carries last season – but he’s been shaky at the next level. The 5-11, 226-pound running back has lost three fumbles in just 71 carries this season. Greene’s latest fumble wasted a 25-yard gain last week against the Buccaneers.
"He takes it harder than anybody," right tackle Damien Woody said. "You don’t want to be known as a fumbler."
To that end, Greene kept the ball high and tight to his chest in practice on Wednesday. Rex Ryan dispelled the notion that the team signed running back Chauncey Washington this week from the Cowboys practice squad to send a message to Greene, who has gained 353 yards (4.0 ypc) for the league’s top-ranked rush offense.
They won't say it in public, but there's no question to me the Washington signing had to do with Greene. Washington's strengths are too similar to Greene's. I don't think Washington takes over for Shonn right off the bat, but the team can't have a back who keeps putting it on the ground. It was for insurance. Thomas Jones has to sit sometime, and there needs to be a back capable of spelling him.
The good news for Greene is his condition is curable. A lot of running backs have overcome fumble struggles, most notably Tiki Barber.
How many more fumbles would it take for you to want to see Greene benched?