<H1 =entry-title>Peyton Hillis Means More to Browns Than Pro Bowl Voters Ever Imagined</H1>
<DIV =byLine sizset="91" sizcache="1">By
Barry Barnes
<DIV =shortBio>NFL Writer
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<DIV =shortBio>Each year after the day when the Pro Bowlers are announced, the snub talks begins. And this season is no different.
The talent pool in the
NFL increases each season, causing the voting for the league's best to participate in the Pro Bowl to be more difficult. Voters base the majority of their decisions on stats and even with the fans, coaches and players participation in the voting process, outstanding athletes get overlooked because of their teams' poor records and because they are not household names. This was probably why
Browns running back
Peyton Hillis was over looked.
Arian Foster is completely deserving of his honor because he leads the league in rushing with 1,436 yards and all running backs in receiving yards with 594.
Jamaal Charles and
Maurice Jones-Drew had great seasons, but did Hillis get a fair shake during the voting?
Foster, Charles and Drew ranks in the top five among running backs for rushing yards. But do team's situations and value count for an individual?
The Browns are 5-10 and in the rebuilding mode. But in terms of situations and value, Hillis should have been on the top on the list. Hillis was the Browns' offense for 2010. He may be 12th in rushing with 1,164 yards with 11 touchdowns, but Hillis is 36th in the league in receptions with 60, in which he's third among running backs in that category.
For the Browns, Hillis is the leading rusher and he's second on the team in receptions, just one catch behind tight end
Benjamin Watson with 61, and has two touchdown catches. Hillis did fumble eight times, which is great considering that this is the first time since high school the former Razorback has carried the full load as the featured back. Unlike Foster, Charles and Jones-Drew, Hillis isn't surrounded by outstanding talent.
As a member of the AFC North, where physicality is a must, Hillis performed on a high level against the
Steelers,
Bengals and the prideful
Ravens rushing defense.
Although Hillis is a second alternate and Jones-Drew (knee) already is a question mark for the game, nothing beats being recognized from the start.
"With Peyton, he's had an outstanding season in so many different ways with running the ball, catching the ball, the threat that he's added to the offense, the amount of touchdowns and all of that, and also the guy," Browns coach Eric Mangini said when asked about the disappointment of Hillis not being voted for the Pro Bowl. "You guys have talked to him enough times, you know what kind of person he is. He's going to be a productive player here for a long time with a chance to be really an outstanding player.
"He's also going to be a tremendous part of the community whether it's charity work, he's just what you look for. I'm really happy that he's here."
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http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/30/peyton-hillis-means-more-to-browns-than-pro-bowl-voters-ever-ima/