Peyton Hillis

[Riddlewire]

I saw that Peyton's name was listed in the topics on ESPN'S PTI program. They had already passed it, so I missed whatever it was about. However, Kornholer and D'Wilbon would not take time out of their show to talk about a white runningback unless it was something they could attack him for.
Did anybody see it? Or is there perhaps new news this evening?

 

[foobar75]

I saw that Peyton's name was listed in the topics on ESPN'S PTI program. They had already passed it, so I missed whatever it was about. However, Kornholer and D'Wilbon would not take time out of their show to talk about a white runningback unless it was something they could attack him for.
Did anybody see it? Or is there perhaps new news this evening?

Riddlewire, it wasn't anything of the sort. If I may say so, I think you should take a page from Electric Slide's book and try to have a more positive outlook instead of always assuming the worst in everything. (no offense intended, just a suggestion)

As best as I can remember, here's how the discussion went between Kornheiser and Simmons (filling in for Wilbon):

TK: Some people are questioning Peyton Hillis' toughness after he missed last week's game with a strep throat. He says he lost 10-12 lbs and was so out of it that he slept thru 3.5 quarters of the game. Simmons, can't a franchise running back take a day off?

BS: Look, I'm the wrong person to ask about illness because when I get sick, everything stops. But if a guy is coughing all over the place and lost 12 lbs, I don't want to be near him, so it's probably better that he didn't play. To me, this is the Madden Curse fading away. It used to be that guys broke their foot or hurt their knee, now they just miss a game because of a bad throat.

TK: A lot of the people saying this are former players. You know, the ones who think they can play thru anything. I can play with a strep throat, I can play without a throat, and so on. You don't know anything about this guy, his body, his condition, so he was probably right in taking the day off.

 

[Don Wassall]

Wake-up call: Hard to criticize Hillis

Browns running back Peyton Hillis defended his decision not to play with strep throat after postgame show analysts questioned him sitting out.

"The people that really care about me, and want the best for me would understand," Hillis said, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "And the people that don't, then they don't. But I can't control that. And I'm going to do what's best for me at that point. If it's going to jeopardize my health in that situation, I'm going to take my own career and my own life in my own hands and do the best I can."

Durability has been a hot topic with Hillis since injuries reduced his playing time in the final month of last season. According to Hillis, his illness and high fever caused him to lose 10 to 12 pounds by Sunday's game against Miami.

"My energy wasn't there," Hillis said. "I knew it wasn't my time that day. Me and the doctors talked it over and they probably didn't think it was the best thing to go out there."

Hensley's slant: It's difficult to criticize Hillis for his decision. This wasn't about his contract. This was about his health. If he lost 10 pounds due to the illness, there really wasn't a decision to make. It's strange to hear the "soft" label applied to Hillis after watching the number of tackles he breaks.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/32486/wake-up-call-hard-to-criticize-hillis

 

[foreverfree]

The other day at my local Walgreens I spotted a young adult black male wearing a Hillis jersey. FWIW. I said nothing nor did I glare at him.

John

 

[whiteathlete33]

The other day at my local Walgreens I spotted a young adult black male wearing a Hillis jersey. FWIW. I said nothing nor did I glare at him.

John

The brutha was probably wearing it as gang colors. I always wondered why they wore hockey jerseys back in the day. I always wonder why we make a big deal when a black wears a white players jersey. Millions of DWF's were black players jerseys.

 

[jaxvid]

The brutha was probably wearing it as gang colors. I always wondered why they wore hockey jerseys back in the day. I always wonder why we make a big deal when a black wears a white players jersey. Millions of DWF's were black players jerseys.

I can tell you why they wear Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys---because they think the maple leaf looks like a pot leaf.

 

[whiteathlete33]

I can tell you why they wear Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys---because they think the maple leaf looks like a pot leaf.

Lol! Jaxvid is on a role again. As I kid I would see tons of black wearing Detroit Red Wings jerseys and always wondered why. I mean these bruthas wouldn't attend a hockey game if they were paid to. Turns out it is the color of the Bloods gang.

 

[JReb1]

Hockey jerseys are also really baggy which makes it much easier for blacks to shoplift and/or carry a firearm without a CWP.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Hockey jerseys are also really baggy which makes it much easier for blacks to shoplift and/or carry a firearm without a CWP.

LOL!

 

[jaxvid]

Lol! Jaxvid is on a role again. As I kid I would see tons of black wearing Detroit Red Wings jerseys and always wondered why. I mean these bruthas wouldn't attend a hockey game if they were paid to. Turns out it is the color of the Bloods gang.

I'm serious, I saw Snopp Dogg say that in an interview somewhere.

I like the idea of easy concealed carry with a baggy hockey jersey, I may have to change my rule of not wearing team sports apparel.

 

[Leonardfan]

saw this propoganda on weenieworld:
Peyton Hillis - RB - Browns

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that there is belief in the Browns' locker room that Peyton Hillis sat out Week 3 because he's more concerned with his contract than playing at less than 100 percent.

In fairness to Hillis, he has a well-earned tough guy reputation, and was clearly incredibly sick leading up to Week 3, losing 10-12 pounds during the week because of strep throat. "That shouldn’t be an issue," said Hillis, playing for just $600K. "That’s not an issue in my brain. I’ll go out there and I’ll play. But if I know I’m not 100 percent and I can hurt my team, I’m not gonna risk myself." Hillis only got 10 carries in his Week 4 return.

 

[Don Wassall]

Typical black crap that the league nurtures, and likely all that Holmgren and Schurmer need to totally screw Hillis if they want. At least in this case there will be the mitigating factors of tremendous DWF anger, not to mention a huge dropoff in talent between Peyton and Hardesty. Let's hope Hillis doesn't follow Jordy Nelson's stupidity and waste his impending free agency by re-signing with Cleveland during the season.

 

[backrow]

Peyton's feelings on the game:

Hillis seemed more concerned with his reduced role in the offense. He carried the ball only 10 times for 46 yards. Montario Hardesty carried seven times for 22 yards.
"I've always found myself to be a guy who gets in a rhythm and gets things done," Hillis said. "But the game plan and what the coaches presented out there, that's what they wanted to go with. So being a player, you follow the coach's orders and do what he tells us to do and you respect that."
Asked if he was frustrated by the division of labor, he said, "You have to take that up with the coaches. That's nothing I can predict. I have no control over that."
Was he healthy enough after losing 10-12 pounds last week?
"I was fine," he said. "I'm healthy. My body feels great. I'm just riding the tide and waiting my chances and opportunities and trying to get things done when I can."
As for the third and 1 that he failed to convert, Hillis didn't seem to love the call. He was lined up as the fullback with Hardesty behind him, and dove to the right for no gain.
"Take it up with the coach," said Hillis. "I'm just running the plays that he tells me to do. He's the head coach. We just run the plays he gives us."
Explained Shurmur: "It was a dive play. We were trying to surprise them. There's a lot of ways to run the ball on third and one. Quick hitters to our best runner. We didn't execute it. We didn't get it done."


i enjoyed this comment by some Browns fan (after Schefter's "story"):

It’s like we have a death wish in this town...A franchise in need of a hero on a once proud but now mostly pathetic team. We find that larger than life guy with a great story happy to be here, and we find a way to make him want to go away??? Only in this town and it needs to change.
If the man said he was sick he was sick...end of non-story. Go Peyton, go Browns.

and another comment:

Another coaching change same result. Our two best players on offense (Moore and Hillis) are P.O.ed. Shurmur is losing control of the ship already. Great hire Walrus. Maybe two years then rebuild the whole thing again?
We FINALLY are starting to break in some talent, a young team with a fair nucleus to continue to build on... but we have monkeys running the ship.

latest from Shurmur:

Coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that the Browns need to get Peyton Hillis more snaps and touches than he received in Week 4.

Hillis and Montario Hardesty engaged in a full-fledged two-back rotation against the Titans. Hillis touched the ball a season-low 15 times. Hardesty got 12 touches, but would've had more than the "starter" if not for four dropped passes. The drops by Hardesty could lead to a playing-time bump for Hillis, perhaps. The Browns face Oakland in Week 6 after a Week 5 bye.
Related: Montario Hardesty


so this week it's official get Peyton more snaps week. good... he's more of a joke than McDaniels...

EDIT TO ADD: good show of support in comments under this article (go from newest to oldest):
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/ind...wns_rb_peyton_hil_5/2932/comments-newest.html

 

[Kaptain]

It's refreshing to hear that white guys like Moore and Hillis are starting to stick-up for themselves. I think this time Hillis has enough pull and popularity to force the coaching staff into trying to win. It sounds like Moore and Hillis may have talked a time or two. This is encouraging especially since the coach has already admitted that he needs to get the ball in Hillis' hands more often.

 

[dwid]

"It was a dive play. We were trying to surprise them. There's a lot of ways to run the ball on third and one. Quick hitters to our best run

every play with Hillis as fullback and Hardesty as tailback has been the same play, how is that a surprise?

The only problem with what he said is that it could be used against him, Whites guys aren't supposed to speak like that and often get criticized for it. Someone said they took his picture off the Cleveland Browns main website.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

during the Arkansas-Alabama college football broadcast on Saturday, the trivia question was something to the effect of: Who are the three former Razorback running backs currently starting in the NFL?

commentator (and former Utah and Florida head football coach) Urban (a fitting first name for a negrophile, if ever there was one) Meyer named Darren McFadden and Felix Jones right off the bat. then, he mentioned "I don't know who the other one would be."

when it was time to answer the question, the third commentator (not Spielman) submitted the view that "The third back has arguably been the best of the whole bunch. Peyton Hillis."

to which Urban responded with something to the effect of, "I'd never have guessed that. Isn't he a fullback?"

it's bizarre that Meyer has such a fondness for affletes, especially considering that the two best players he's ever coached were both White men: Tim Tebow and Eric Weddle.

 

[bigunreal]

I'm pleasantly surprised to hear Hillis' comments. It's pretty clear that he isn't happy with the situation, and his refrain of "ask the coaches" is the perfect way to express his frustrations without literally criticizing things. Of course, we have to thank Hardesty, for looking so bad that virtually no one can justify force feeding him touches at the expense of Hillis.

Whatever is going on here, the unexpected support of the DWFs, as well as the announcing team during the last game, is revealing. If the intent was to force Hillis out of a starting job, it looks like things may backfire on Shurmur and Holmgren. Maybe the "strep throat" will turn out to be the best thing that could have happened to Peyton Hillis.

 

[jaxvid]

The Cleveland management is playing with fire here. Peyton Hillis was a RB1 draft pick in all FF football leagues. That means thousands upon thousands of DWFs are watching this situation with increased interest. It's one thing to screw a Woodhead or a Tebow, guys that were rarely drafted and thus out of the extremely narrow vision of the DWF world. But Hillis is a big part of guys teams and it's one thing if he's hurt, heck all backs get hurt, but it's quite another if the coaching staff is ****ing around with his carries for no good reason. That pisses guys off. The media is savvy enough to know that guys only follow their hometown teams and the players on their FF team. They will keep an eye on this situation and be asking questions.

Now if Cleveland guts it out and continues to screw Hillis or if he gets hurt then he drops off the radar and will be forgotten before you can say Brock Forsey. But this year there are a lot of eyes on this situation and it WILL put pressure on the team.

 

[Don Wassall]

The majority of Shurmur's press conference was spent answering Hillis-related questions, with Schurmer talking out of both sides of his mouth. It's still too early to see how this will play out, but it looks like Hardesty's role is not going to be reduced. Shurmur is likely doing exactly what the Caste Walrus wants him to in regard to Hillis.

Browns coach says RB Hillis not being punished

Browns coach Pat Shurmur defended his use of Peyton Hillis, saying the bruising back did not get less playing time on Sunday against Tennessee because of his unresolved contract issue or punishment for missing Cleveland's game last week with strep throat.

article: http://www.newschief.com/article/20111003/APS/1110030883

 

[bigunreal]

Thanks for the link, Don. Hadn't seen that one. It does look like Shurmur is going to keep that ridiculous Hardesty as a part of the game plan, no matter what. At least he's undoubtedly feeling a of unanticipated pressure now.

Nice to see the quote from Pashos. I take back what I said about no white players supporting Hillis. Again, that one is a huge surprise. Nice to see Little supporting him, too. I knew there was a reason he was on my all keeper fantasy team....

The Hillis saga may well be the first signs of the Caste system starting to crumble. Only a little bit, for sure, but something is there that wasn't just a few years ago; white players speaking up, even msm reporters asking the right questions. I think that you, and this web site, have been instrumental in opening a lot of eyes to these kinds of unjust situations.

 

[backrow]

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur: Peyton Hillis 'needs to play most of the time'

BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur insisted Monday that Peyton Hillis' carries are not being limited because of his contract negotiations and acknowledged Hillis "needs to play most of the time."
The Browns have been trying to extend Hillis' contract, but the two sides remain far apart.
"Absolutely not," said Shurmur of limiting Hillis' reps to devalue him. "I think it's a non-issue. The game changes as the score changes, and a lot of times that involves throwing it."
Hillis, who sat out last week's game with strep throat and flu-like symptoms, carried the ball only 10 times for 46 yards in the 31-13 loss to the Titans and caught five passes for 23 yards. Montario Hardesty ran the ball seven times for 22 yards and caught five passes for 49 yards. But Hardesty also dropped four short passes, including several over the middle.
Shurmur conceded Monday that he needs his star running back to be more involved.
"I think it's important," he said. "I think he played 50-some snaps. I think 55. I think Hardesty played in the 30s and then there were times when they were in there together. It's important [he plays most of the time]. And I think Peyton will get and should get more snaps and carries."
He stressed that Hillis suits the new West Coast offense and the Browns aren't trying to diminish his role.
"I think Peyton Hillis fits extremely well," he said. "I think it's important he touches the ball and he did.
"We got to the point where we got the ball for the first time in the third quarter, it was 24-6, we're moving the football and it quickly turned to 31-6. And so then the ratio of whether you run it or throw it starts to change significantly. But he was having success running the ball, and he did fine."
Hillis made it clear Sunday that he wants more runs. Last season, he averaged 17 rushes a game, and carried the ball 15 or more times on nine occasions. He finished second on the team with 61 receptions for 477 yards, which led to questions as to why Hardesty was getting so many passes his way. Hardesty had nine balls thrown to him and he caught give. Hillis was targeted six times and caught five.
"Take it up with the coach," Hillis said after the game. "I'm just running the plays that he tells me to do. I'm just riding the tide and waiting my chances and opportunities and trying to get things done when I can."
Shurmur said neither Hillis nor tight end Evan Moore, who also questioned his lack of opportunities -- targeted twice, one catch -- approached him with their concerns.
"Neither one of them said anything to me about it," Shurmur said. "I will say this. Everyone in that locker room is disappointed that we lost and I think skill players, guys that touch the ball, there's something about their nature where they want it all the time. I think that's something good.
"I think we all know that when we don't get everything that we're looking for, there's certain ways to handle it. It's very hard for me to say beyond that."

• Shurmur-Hillis issue a miscommunication: Pluto
• Mack has appendectomy
• Tony Grossi's Browns podcast

Shurmur said it's not a case of Hillis no longer being the focal point of the offense.
"He's a terrific player," said Shurmur. "He's a big part of what we do. And again, if I were here a year ago and I could have felt all this, I might have a different answer. The running back in any offense, especially ours, is a very important piece and he needs to touch the football."
Shurmur also addressed the report Sunday by ESPN's Adam Schefter that some of Hillis' teammates wondered if his unresolved contract situation was a factor in sitting out the Dolphins game. A source confirmed for The Plain Dealer that some players felt that way.
He said he didn't hear any complaints first-hand, and would've preferred to see names attached to the report.
"I have expressed to the team that I would prefer that we keep business in house, and I think that's hard to do," he said. "And I can't really control how the team feels about certain situations other than we're constantly talking about being very professional, about doing your job and doing those types of things. So until somebody said so and so said it, it's very hard for me to comment beyond that."
He stressed that Hillis "was sick. I'm not trying to talk around it. He was ill and he looked ill."
The few players in the locker room Monday supported Hillis -- who's also come under fire from former Browns for not suiting up.
"I don't take these sources to be very credible," said rookie receiver Greg Little. "I just think that's coming from very thin air. I don't think the [report] is true. I think Peyton is a big enough competitor to want to come out and play every weekend."
Said linebacker Titus Brown, who saw how sick Hillis looked that morning: "If Peyton were able to play, he would've played. He loves this team just like everybody else on this team."
On Twitter: @marykaycabot

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/10/cleveland_browns_coach_pat_shu_8.html

 

[backrow]

a good article on Hillis:

[h=1]Peyton Hillis: A career perspective -- having to prove himself, time and again[/h]

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer​

Peyton Hillis has usually excelled when given the chance to get the football on a consistent basis, whether in high school, college or the NFL.​

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Running back Peyton Hillis has been a focal point of Cleveland Browns coverage the last two weeks.
Before that, though, Hillis emerged as a star in 2010, when his 1,654 combined rushing/receiving yards were the sixth-most in the NFL, and his 13 touchdowns were tied for third-most.
Hillis' accomplishments were even more impressive considering (1) he was keyed on by defenses showing no respect for a Browns' passing game that largely relied on either an aging/injured Jake Delhomme or an inexperienced/injured Colt McCoy at quarterback, with no accomplished wide receivers; (2) the open-door right side of the Browns' offensive line; (3) the taxing physical toll that was reflected in Hillis' scant statistics the final two games.
The assessment might seem favorably slanted toward Hillis, but how far off can it be?
One criticism of Hillis is that his playing style invites injury. Yet, the pounding Hillis took could maybe be attributed just as much to defenses' comfort in keying on him as to how he plays the game.
Circumstances for Hillis are essentially the same this season. He missed the Browns' 17-16 win over the defensively-challenged, winless Miami Dolphins on Sept. 25, with strep throat, a fever and other symptoms that caused a reported weight loss of about 12 pounds.
In the Browns' three other games, Hillis has rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns in 54 carries, averaging 3.6 yards a try, and has caught 15 passes for 76 yards.
Hillis' season highlight thus far was on Sept. 18 in Indianapolis, when he bounced off a pile of players and sprinted 24 yards for the touchdown that all but clinched the Browns' 27-19 win over the Colts.
Yet, during a season in which virtually every move has been dissected, even that TD dash elicited an asterisk from some who cited what Hillis' yards-per-carry would have been without it.
At the forefront of the conversation about Hillis has been his contract status. Hillis is in the final season of the four-year, $1,755,000 rookie contract he signed with Denver after the Broncos picked him in the seventh round of the 2007 draft.
The contract included a $49,800 signing bonus. Hillis' base salary this season is $555,000, after salaries of $295,000 in 2008, $385,000 in 2009 and $470,000 last season.
A look at the career of the 25-year-old Hillis:
High School
Hillis rushed for 2,631 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards a carry, during his senior season at Conway High School in Arkansas.
He won the Landers Award for the top high school player in the state, and was ranked by Rivals.com as Arkansas' top recruit and the nation's second-ranked fullback for the high school class of 2003.
College
Hillis chose to attend the University of Arkansas after being recruited by some of the nation's premier college football programs.
He would be used at fullback, H-back, tailback, tight end, wide receiver and as a punt returner by the Razorbacks over the next four years.
As a freshman, Hillis adapted to what would be his first responsibility at Arkansas -- leading fellow running backs through holes and helping to protect the quarterback. Yet, he also contributed with his running, with 240 yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for 3.8 yards per carry, a number which was somewhat diminished by his numerous dives into the line in short-yardage situations. Hillis also caught 12 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Hillis was joined in the Arkansas backfield by two gifted tailbacks -- Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. McFadden went on to gain 4,590 yards and Jones 2,954 in the next three seasons. Hillis' blocking certainly helped, but the duo rightfully earned their first-round spots in the 2008 NFL draft after their junior years -- McFadden going to the Oakland Raiders with the fourth overall pick; Jones to the Dallas Cowboys with the 22nd overall selection.
Hillis, as a sophomore, made his share of big plays with the football, too. He carried 65 times for 315 yards -- a 4.8-yard average -- and three touchdowns, and caught 38 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns.
Hillis didn't get many touches as a junior, though. He ran just 13 times, gaining 57 yards with one touchdown. His pass catches slipped to 19, for 159 yards.
The Razorbacks remembered during Hillis' senior season that he could do something with the football. He ran for 347 yards and two touchdowns in 62 carries, averaging 5.6 yards. He caught 49 passes for 539 yards and five touchdowns. Add in his blocking, and Hillis earned multiple second-team All-American honors.
NFL draft
Hillis was projected to be a middle- to late-round pick. At the NFL Combine, he checked in at 6-0 3/4 in height, and 250 pounds. At Arkansas' Pro Day, Hillis ran the 40 in 4.56 seconds and his vertical leap was measured at 35 inches.
Most pundits believed the Broncos got a bargain when they drafted him in the seventh round, the 227th overall pick -- resulting in the four-year contract worth a total of $1,775,000.
2008, Broncos
In his first seven NFL games, Hillis totaled three carries for 14 yards, caught one pass for four yards and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards.
He got his first chance to display his playmaking abilities in Denver's eighth game, a 26-17 loss to Miami.
Hillis didn't run the ball from scrimmage against the Dolphins, but he caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Ironically, it was during the Broncos' next game, at Browns Stadium on Thursday night, Nov. 6, that Hillis got a chance to carry the football.
Cleveland.com's Browns History Database features The Plain Dealer game stories of every regular season and playoff game in Browns history. Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi wrote about the Broncos' 34-30 win over the Browns.
Denver went into the game having already lost running backs Andre Hall and Michael Pittman to injuries. Then, by halftime, tailback Ryan Torain left with a knee injury and his replacement, Selvin Young, was sidelined after aggravating a groin injury.

Chuck Crow, PD​

Peyton Hillis, with Denver, getting a key fourth-quarter first down on a fourth-and-one play during the Broncos' 34-30 win over the Browns in 2008.​

It was only then that Hillis got a chance. His numbers were not spectacular-- eight carries for 24 yards -- but he picked up crucial first downs in short-yardage situations as the Broncos overcame a 23-10 Browns lead.
The win at Cleveland made the Broncos 5-4.
Hillis then helped Denver to three wins in the next four games, making the Broncos 8-5 and putting them in first place in the AFC West Division.
In the four games, Hillis rushed for 305 yards and five touchdowns in 57 carries, gaining 5.4 yards per try. He also caught six passes for 59 yards.
Hillis seemed on the verge of a big performance in the fourth of those contests, a 24-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He had rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown in eight carries, but he suffered a season-ending torn right hamstring when he planted his right foot after making a highlight-film pass catch from quarterback Jay Cutler, and was hit on both sides of his body by Chiefs defenders.
Denver then lost its last three games. Despite the 8-8 finish, the Broncos finished in a first-place tie with the San Diego Chargers, but were left out of the playoffs due to the tie-breaker process.
2009, Broncos
Denver's 2008 late-season fade led to the firing of coach Mike Shanahan.
The Broncos hired Josh McDaniels, and the potential Hillis had displayed in 2008 apparently meant nothing to the new coach.
Hillis was allowed a mere 13 carries for the season, gaining 54 yards. He caught four passes for 19 yards and returned six kickoffs for 134 yards.
Hillis said little, but it was known that he was frustrated that the Broncos had essentially forgot about him.
Denver traded Hillis, along with a 2011 sixth-round draft pick and a conditional 2012 draft pick, to the Browns for quarterback Brady Quinn on March 14, 2010.
2010, Browns
Hillis didn't start the first two Browns' games, both losses, but he showed he could contribute, rushing for 76 yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries -- a 4.5-yard average gain -- and catching seven passes for 50 yards.
Hillis started the rest of the way. In the next nine games, as the Browns went 4-5, he ran for 829 yards and nine touchdowns in 182 carries, gaining 4.6 yards per try. He caught 39 passes for 364 yards and two more touchdowns.
The Browns won one of their next three games, and Hillis posted solid numbers, with 224 yards in 53 carries -- a 4.2-yard average -- and 13 receptions, though just for 55 yards as the Browns began dumping off shorter and shorter throws.
In the last two games, Hillis -- obviously worn down by being, for all intents and purposes, the sole attention of opposing defenses -- ran 18 times for 48 yards and caught two passes for eight yards as the Browns were overwhlemed by the Baltimore Ravens, 20-10, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, 41-9.
The four-game losing streak that ended the Browns' season cost coach Eric Mangini his job, and led to the hiring of Pat Shurmur.

 

[JReb1]

Agent for Peyton Hillis told him not to play sick

Fearing Peyton Hillis(notes) was weakened from strep throat and could risk injury, his agent advised the Browns’ bruising back not to play on Sept. 25 against Miami.

Hillis left Browns Stadium about two hours before kickoff, a decision that has led to speculation he was upset over ongoing negotiations with the club on a contract extension.

However, agent Kennard McGuire told The Associated Press that Hillis was too sick to play, and that he could have jeopardized his career if he played at less than 100 percent.

“I would give him the same advice to him or any of my clients as if he were my son,” McGuire said in a phone interview. “The game is physical enough, and the way Peyton plays the game, he needs all the elements of his physical game. Him being sick, and the level of his sickness, is the equivalent of being injured.

“Not only could he have hurt himself but he could have hurt his team. Nobody embodies Cleveland like Peyton Hillis. If anyone wants to point a finger, point it at me.”

In the aftermath of Hillis’ decision not to play, suspicions have been raised about the 25-year-old’s motives and some have questioned if he sat out in protest.

On Sunday, citing unidentified sources, ESPN reported that some players in Cleveland’s locker room wondered if Hillis’ contract situation was a factor in him deciding not to play.

McGuire, like coach Pat Shurmur, was disturbed that if there were teammates who felt that way, they should have had the “courage” to speak out publicly.

McGuire said Hillis, who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season with Cleveland, has been affected by contract talks with the club.

“He’s human, of course it’s on his mind,” said McGuire, adding he has been in “constant contact” with the Browns. “Would it affect him being a pro? No. Does he feel underappreciated? Yes. He’s human. We all in life have a perceived value of our worth now, and he doesn’t take for granted what he’s earning now.

“But we do believe that he’s deserving of something that mirrors his production of last year.”
Hillis carried Cleveland’s offense in 2010 under former coach Eric Mangini. Acquired in a trade from Denver for quarterback Brady Quinn(notes), Hillis didn’t take long to storm into the hearts of Browns fans with a bulldozing running style that matched this blue-collar football city’s hard-working identity.
During the offseason, Hillis won a fan vote over Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick(notes) to grace the cover of the Madden 12 video game.

Last season, Hillis caught 61 passes and became the first player in team history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, make 50 catches and score 10 TDs in the same season.

He’s in the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him $600,000 and Hillis wants to be rewarded for his breakout season.

In the past month, the Browns have given contract extensions to several players they have identified as part of their future “core.” Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas(notes), tight end Evan Moore(notes), defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin(notes) and linebacker Chris Gocong(notes) have all received new deals.
Hillis would figure to be in line for an extension, but McGuire indicated the sides aren’t near a deal.

“Both the Browns and I are in constant communication,” he said. “The fact that the Browns are in contact sends a message that both sides want to procure an agreement. It’s just that we are not aligned at this time as to what that value is. Details of these talks will always remain between me and the organization.”

There are other factors that may be holding up an extension for Hillis.

Shurmur has installed a West Coast offense, which puts a premium on passing and could significantly reduce Hillis’ carries. Also, second-year back Montario Hardesty(notes) is healthy after missing his rookie season with a knee injury, and the Browns are trying to figure how to best use him and Hillis in the same backfield.

The Browns may also be wary of giving Hillis a huge contract for fear his aggressive, pounding style will take its toll, lead to injury and shorten his career.

Hillis only had 10 carries in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to Tennessee, fueling belief the Browns might be punishing him for the contract issue—or not playing a week earlier.

Afterward, Hillis said he wanted the ball more, but didn’t complain about the low number of touches.
“Take it up with the coach,” Hillis said. “I’m just running the plays that he tells me to do. I’m just riding the tide and waiting my chances and opportunities and trying to get things done when I can.”

On Monday, Shurmur, who is filling the dual role of offensive coordinator, insisted Hillis’ attempts were not limited because the Browns were trying to “devalue” the back or for any other off-field reason.

“Absolutely not,” Shurmur said. “It’s a non-issue.”
Shurmur said Hillis remains a major piece in Cleveland’s offense as the Browns head into their bye week.

“He’s a terrific player,” he said. “He’s a big part of what we do. And again, if I were here a year ago and I could have felt all this, I might have a different answer. The running back in any offense, especially ours, is a very important piece and he needs to touch the football.”

Also this week, several of Hillis’ teammates defended his decision to sit out a week earlier.
“You’ve got to be at your best to play this game,” said linebacker Titus Brown(notes). “This is the NFL. If Peyton was able to play, he would have played. He loves this team.”


http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AhNpS3Z0RktXvKZQ9Dxz5rI5nYcB?slug=ap-browns-hillis

 

[Don Wassall]

It keeps getting more and more interesting:

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Tony Grossi believes Peyton Hillis will request a trade ahead of the October 18 deadline. Grossi says contract talks between the Browns and Hillis are "not going well," and that a trade request is likely the "next step." It's hard to imagine the Browns cutting ties with one of their few offensive weapons, though it's become clear they have little interest in inking their feature back to a lucrative long-term extension. While Hillis and his third agent in four months desperately struggle to maintain leverage, the Browns have little motivation to act on a trade request even if Montario Hardesty looms as a potential replacement.

 

[whiteathlete33]

This doesn't sound good. If Hillis does get traded there is a very good chance he won't be a starter on his new team or even see a decent amount of touches. How many teams around the league are willing to give a white running back a chance? Obviously very few as we saw what happened in Denver when Hillis displayed his talents after all the affletes were injured.