BEREA, Ohio – Browns rookie Terrance West offered a delightfully contradictory statement Wednesday that reflects an attitude and expectation level he's working to adjust.

"I'm a team guy, but at the same time I'm a ball hog," the halfback said. "If I could tell a coach, 'Give me the ball every play,' I would. I'm a ball hog, but that's just the competitor in me. I just like to compete."

West has to earn the right to play again first.

The halfback, who entered last week's action as the team's leading rusher, was a healthy scratch in the Browns' 31-10 win over the Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. He stood on the sideline in a sweatsuit and watched Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell combine for 155 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

It was a humbling moment for a small-college star who rushed for 100 yards in his NFL regular-season debut. Coach Mike Pettine wasn't pleased with West's practice habits and, at times, his effort when he didn't get a handoff in games.

The coach said Wednesday that how the rookie practices will determine whether he's active for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. West believes he'll get back into the lineup and understands he's not back at Towson University, where the offense revolved around him.

He also admits the rise of Crowell on the depth chart to the No. 2 back behind Tate bothered him.

"Sometimes I let it get the best of me," said West, who's rushed for 235 yards and two TDs on 54 carries. "Like I said before, going back to me, I wish I could get the ball every play. I wish I could, but this is the NFL. It's not college anymore."

West was the featured back in the two games Tate missed with a knee injury. But when Tate returned for the Oct. 5 Titans' game, West found himself behind the veteran and fellow rookie.

"It hit me. I had to really sit down and think about it," West said. "This is another level. It's a business, and there's a lot of people that get paid a lot of money to do things. I mean my time will come. I'm just patiently waiting, and when my number's called, I'm just going to answer."

A year ago, the Browns didn't have one productive back. Now, they have three as the club ranks third in the NFL averaging 146.4 yards rushing per game.

Pettine has demonstrated a willingness to reduce playing time regardless of player's pay grade or draft status. First-round cornerback Justin Gilbert is a prime example. West, a third rounder, became the latest illustration.

Coach and player have met and Pettine is confident the running back received the message. West said one thing he must improve is supplying more effort on play fakes.

"In college, they gave me the ball -- they just gave me the ball." West said. ". . . I mean no one's perfect. Even the greatest running backs to play the game had to work on their game and things like that."

West's work habits could improve, he conceded, and he had an inkling of trouble last week with his reduced practice reps. The halfback thinks he had a good day of practice Wednesday and remains confident he'll deliver when he gets his next opportunity.

He was disappointed in the benching, but said he realizes the objective is winning. When surrounded by reporters Wednesday he made sure to stress team in his first response.

Asked about Pettine's decision to scratch him against the Steelers, West said:

"It was something I had to live with and move on. But how bout the Browns? They came up with a big win. Crowell and Tate did a great job on the ground and that's the positive thing about it."