Peyton Hillis

[jaxvid]

Two good outings in a row for Hillis. Obviously he is still a quality back and was being held back by injuries. My FF forecaster was a typical douche bag about Hillis before the game, he was crying that he is too risky a play especially against the Ravens and their tough run game. WRONG again!! I think the guys that give out FF advice are the worst predictors in the country. I'd like to be these guys bookies because they don't know what the hell they're talking about.

BTW another banner week for an all white (theoretical) FF team. With two White RB's over 100 yards, add in Jordy Nelson and Wes Welker along with a TE or someone NOT like Jared Cook and you have a pretty good line-up for the week.

 

[Don Wassall]

Jared Cook is a member of the magical race that produces the World's Greatest Athletes, but yeah it's great to see Hillis bounce back strong against some tough run defenses. The ultra-fickle media and DWFs seem to be supporting him again. If the Browns get a number one receiver (in the first round instead of drafting a RB) to team with Greg Little, start Evan Moore at TE, and improve the o-line's blocking, Hillis could have some nice seasons if he stays in Cleveland. Here's a typical article:
http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/12/25/sports/nh4902133.txt

 

[jaxvid]

Jared Cook is a member of the magical race that produces the World's Greatest Athletes, but yeah it's great to see Hillis bounce back strong against some tough run defenses. The ultra-fickle media and DWFs seem to be supporting him again. If the Browns get a number one receiver (in the first round instead of drafting a RB) to team with Greg Little, start Evan Moore at TE, and improve the o-line's blocking, Hillis could have some nice seasons if he stays in Cleveland. Here's a typical article:
http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/12/25/sports/nh4902133.txt

Yeah, oops! Jared Cook always seems like such a White name to me. I drafted him late one year in FF and thought HA! a good white TE slipped through the cracks of the Riggins league pro White drafters, but alas another one of the WGA!!!

I checked and Hillis is available in my other FF league, which has small rosters so you can't really carry injured guys for more then a couple of games. I wish it was a keeper league because I think he will have a good year next year if he stays healthy.

 

[backrow]

Browns still haven't decided whether to pay him or not.

[h=1]Cleveland Browns' Peyton Hillis a believer in the 'Madden Curse': Browns Insider[/h]
BEREA, Ohio -- Forget everything Peyton Hillis has said and done this season. Well, most of it, at least. He'd appreciate if you didn't remember the public missteps he had with Browns management about his contract renegotiations, the medical advice he took from his agent to skip a game when he was sick, and the closed-door meeting he had with teammates who reached out to the foundering running back.
And please, most of all, don't recall the many times Hillis proclaimed he doesn't believe in the Madden Curse.

View full size

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer​

Healthy Browns running back Peyton Hillis ran for a season-high 112 yards Sunday against the Ravens in Baltimore.​

Because he does.
"No doubt about it," Hillis finally admitted Thursday. "Things haven't worked to my favor this year. There's a few things that happened that made me believe in curses. Ain't no doubt about it."
Blame the first 14 or so weeks of this season on Hillis' picture on the cover of the "Madden NFL 12" video game. He finally feels healthy after a nagging hamstring injury knocked him out for five games at midseason, and it showed in his season-high 112 yards rushing Sunday in Baltimore.
He finally feels happy, an attitude that manifested in his cheerful, "Howdy!" to media in the locker room Thursday -- and in his declaration that he hopes this isn't his final game with the Browns because he wants to prove last season's 1,177 yards weren't a fluke.
"I really enjoyed my time playing in a Browns uniform, and I hope I can continue to be here," Hillis said. "I know these past couple games and this game, I'll play my hardest. I'm going to play my best, and people are going to see that I've still got it and I want to be here."
Hillis is performing not only for the fans he likened to a "second family," but for Browns management, who appear uncertain on whether they want the running back to return. Head coach Pat Shurmur declined to say Thursday whether the Browns intend to re-sign the soon-to-be free-agent Hillis. On three separate occasions, Shurmur was asked about the possibility of Hillis' return -- including point blank whether he wants Hillis back -- and each time Shurmur said that the decision will require off-season evaluation.
"I think, as we look at our roster and we look at building our team . . . we've got to consider everything," Shurmur said. "One thing you've seen about Peyton is that, in the last month or so, he's gotten himself healthy and he's performed well. I think that's the Peyton everyone was used to seeing a year ago."
Last week's 4.7 yards per carry against the Ravens was the highest mark for Hillis this season, surpassing last season's 4.4 yards per carry. He's averaged 105.5 yards per game the past two contests, bouncing back from just 25 yards in the most recent meeting against Pittsburgh, when he was also battling a hip injury.
"I just feel people can see, when I'm 100 percent, I am running hard," Hillis said. "I can do pretty good. That's what I want people to see. . . . I want people to see that I'm not a one-hit wonder."
Madden Curse or not, Hillis said this season has been a learning experience, but he believes "there's no such thing as accidents. . . . This is the way it's supposed to be."
"It's kind of funny how things worked out, but at the end of the day, I'm really happy with where I'm at," Hillis said. "I'm a truly happy person. When I look back on this 15, 20 years from now, I'm probably going to just laugh."
More than proving he can battle back from the Madden Curse, however, Hillis wants to use Sunday's game against the Steelers to show his appreciation for Browns fans who have continued to support him through his trying season.
"I'd love to come back here," Hillis said. "I'm a Cleveland Brown at heart. Ever since I've been here, I fell in love with the fans and the city and the people who live here. They've been nothing but 100 percent supportive. They're everything. When I talk to them, it's good to have a second-family backing like that. All I can do is go out there and do my best, and we'll see what happens."

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/12/cleveland_browns_peyton_hillis_11.html

 

[whiteathlete33]

This is when we need to worry. Will another team give him a chance to be a starter if Cleveland lets him walk? It's possible but unlikely. We've seen countless white running backs get screwed before and this could happen to Hillis. I'd love to know what his asking price is. I'm sure it's reasonable but for some reason the Browns aren't budging. He's a top five running back and maybe the best pass receiving running back in the league yet resigning him doesn't seem to be a priority for Cleveland.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Just a sum up of Hillis' saga. YAHOOLIGAN WHITE RIVALS has done multiple attack pieces on Peyton Hillis. Rotowire has called him a ONE YEAR WONDER and also blamed him for not picking up a 1st down on a catch in the Ravens game on 4th down on Cleveland's last drive. He caught it reaching for the ball, only about 12 inches in bounds, before immediately getting shoved out. The media has done a good job of turning lots of DW Cleveland fans against him. He was without Pro Bowl blocker Eric Steinbach this year. He had to deal with an inept passing game to keep the D from stacking the box with 8 men. He battled injuries as well. No, I don't blame it on the Madden Curse lol.

Considering his production based on the situation, dealing with a new coach- and playing in the conference with the best rush defenses overall in the NFL, I'd actually rank his season in the middle of the pack of starting tailbacks.

I wonder if not trusting Shurmur to keep him in the game made Hillis run less instinctively this year as he has the talent of one of the best powerbacks in the entire league. Shurmur also pulled Hillis off 3rd down duty when he had a monster year as a receiver last year and had some big plays there.

Bottom Line: Hillis shouldn't sign with the Browns unless he builds into his contract that the team WON'T draft a RB in the 1st two rounds this year. If the Browns draft Trent Richardson, it's game over for Hillis. I can't think of any teams out there right now that he could come right in and take 2/3s of the carries except maybe the Packers. Not sure what will happen, but let's hope for the best. There's a few teams I could see giving him an even split.

 

[Don Wassall]

The Caste Walrus held a press conference today and offered nothing new on Peyton. The Browns have gone 9-23 in two years under Holmgren, who blew up what Eric Mangini was beginning to build and turned the team pretty much into a first year expansion squad again. Hopefully he'll get canned after another season or two of failure. Relevant highlights:

Holmgren was joined by General Manager Tom Heckert. They did more sidestepping than Browns quarterbacks in a month of Steelers games. They offered little clarity on the status of Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis -- who entered 2011 as huge fan favorites and ended it with cloudy futures.

As for Hillis, Holmgren and Heckert stayed consistent with Shurmur and flatly declined to say they wanted him back. When pressed later on Hillis, Holmgren asked that reporters "please respect our decision not to talk about that today."

With Montario Hardesty's injury history, running back has become an unforeseen area of need. Both men acknowledged the receiver situation needs significant upgrading, too.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/01/mike_holmgren_says_cleveland_b.html

 

[backrow]

read few comments under this laughable "article". most people are sticking up for Peyton.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-10799133

also, a list of possible landing tricks for Peyton:

One year removing from rushing for a career high 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns,Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis took a gigantic step backwards in 2011.
Some are blaming the Madden curse for his demise this season (hell, even Hillis did), but that’s no excuse for the poor season he had. He dealt with injuries all season long and was bitter with the Browns’ front office for not offering him the guaranteed type money he was looking for, which was roughly $5-$6 million per season.
Now that the Browns are clearly not going to give Hillis that type of money after his bad season, 587 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns in only 10 games played, who will? I doubt he will be able to get $5 million per season and he will probably be looking in the $3.5 million dollar range.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 suitors that could go after Hillis in the offseason, in no specific order:
Indianapolis Colts
With Andrew Luck presumably coming to town, why not bring in a new running back, as well? Joseph Addai is getting older, Donald Brown is, well Donald Brown, and then there’s Delone Carter, who was a fourth round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Carter was supposed to be the guy to supplant Addai, and there’s still time for that, but he was the third running back on a bad team at the end of the year, after being benched for repeatedly fumbling the ball.
This move would actually make more sense if Peyton Manning was going to be the starter in 2012, as they have the mindset to win now.
Washington Redskins
What does Mike Shanahan love more than anything else? Yup, you guessed it, running backs. Washington was ranked 25th in the NFL in rushing yards, so there is a lot of room for improvement. Rookie running back Roy Helu had a great season and ended up with 1,019 total yards and 3 total touchdowns, and Hillis could provide more of the same if they intend to sign him.
This is not as big of a long shot as the teams mentioned above, as we all know, Washington’s owner Daniel Snider is not afraid to open his check book.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is currently depending on Ryant Grant and James Starks as their main source of production out of the running back position, and they’re even using guys like Brandon Saine and John Kuhn. Rookie Alex Green was a bust in year one due to injury, but he should be back in 2012. However, all of these guys are solid role players, but none of them are really true feature backs.
Even if the Packers wanted to keep most of them, bringing Hillis on would give them an elite short-yardage and goal-line back, as well as a great receiver out of the back-field. He’d help make an already unstoppable offense even better.
Detroit Lions
Starter Jahvid Best has battled injuries in his first two seasons, the most recent of which to be head injuries. The Lions may be hesistant to walk into 2012 with Best, Kevin Smith, and Mikel Leshoure, all guys who have had serious injuries within the past 1-2 years. A feature back like Hillis who can do it all could be a welcomed addition.
Denver Broncos
Hillis played for the Broncos three years ago and was traded away when Josh McDaniels was still running the show. Now under a new regime, the Broncos could potentially take a look at Hillis with the knowledge that Knownshon Moreno isn’t the answer as their every down back, and Willis McGahee isn’t getting any younger.
Hillis always seemed to fit in nicely in Denver, so he’d likely be welcomed back with open arms.
Chicago Bears
It’s unlikely the Bears shoot themselves in the foot by letting stud running back Matt Forte walk away in free agency, but if they do, Hillis could be a name to watch to take his place.
New York Jets
With LaDainian Tomlinson thinking about calling it quits and Shone Greene not looking like the answer in New York, Hillis could provide immediate assistance to a team that is set to win now rather than later and desires to pound the ball with the running game. Even with Greene rushing for over 1,000 yards on the year, he only had two games in which he rushed over 100 yards.
New York might also be willing to pay Hillis more money then most teams, so this could be a good fit for Hillis and New York.
Atlanta Falcons
We all saw the game on Sunday, 4th and inches two times and they called a quarterback sneak both times. Now what that says to me is that they don’t have faith in Michael Turner to get that yard and they shouldn’t, as evidence in week 10 when he was stoned on 4th and short. Hillis would give them the ability to use him on 3rd and short and even spell Turner a couple of series a game.
Although it’s not likely that the Falcons will sign him, but as a Falcon fan I’d love the move.
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones loves Arkansas players (Hillis went there), and there’s slight concern over whether both Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray can last a full season, as Murray went down in his rookie year, and Jones hasn’t played a full season yet in his career. Hillis can block, catch, and take over short-yardage and goal-line duty, while providing the offense with a ready every-down back if needed. This is assuming Hillis would be willing to take a back0-seat initially.
Tennessee Titans
Yes I know they already have a lot of money tied up in the running back position with Chris Johnson, but Hillis could be the perfect fit for, dare I say a Thunder and Lighting type combo. The Titans also have two young running backs on their roster they like, Jamie Harper and Javon Ringer, but both were often injured this season.
It might be a long shot, but it might be worth it to go after Hillis, for the up and coming Titans.

http://nflsoup.com/?p=19483

 

[DixieDestroyer]

I'd like to see Peyton in Atlanta, Dallas, GB or back in Denver...as long as he gets carries.

 

[itsme]

The only 2 good options are staying in Cleveland or signing with the Jets.

Detroit and GB need a decent RB but both are passing teams so he wouln't get enough carries.

Atlanta,Chicago,Tennessee and Denver are bad choices.

 

[dwid]

Denver wouldn't be a bad choice, McGahee is old and overachieving. The part about at Atlanta, it made me puke to think of Hillis serving as a backup to Michael Turner, although I don't know how much longer Turner would last, he seems to get fatter and less athletic every year. Kansas City wouldn't be a bad spot to split carries with Jamaal Charles, they don't seem to want to give Charles a huge load. The Jets would probably screw him over and go with Greene and the bust from USC.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

The Atlanta sports press is about as down about Michael Turner as they are about Matt Ryan right now. At least that is what I've heard coming from "The Fan" this week.

 

[Don Wassall]

Normally I wouldn't like the idea of Hillis going to an ultra-black-oriented team like the Raiders, but McFadden is injury prone and Bush is a FA and likely to sign elsewhere, so it might work out.

2012 NFL Free Agency Rumors – Peyton Hillis to Oakland Raiders?

January 23, 2012 06:31 PM EST

The 2011-12 NFL season was a big disappointment for the Oakland Raiders as the new coaching staff and several injuries hurt the team's chances of making the playoffs this year.

The team did find a player in Michael Bush as the backup running back filled in nicely for the injured Darren McFadden; and with this being the last year of his contract, he probably earned himself a big money deal with another team this off-season.

The Raiders will need to add some depth in the backfield and Peyton Hillis from the Cleveland Browns would make a terrific compliment to McFadden. The two backs played together at Arkansas and are close friends, and his running style fits what Oakland wants in a back. Hillis has over 2,000 career rushing yards and is a decent pass catching threat for a big back, but injuries and trouble with the Browns front office could cost him a big payday.

Oakland was expected to challenge for the NFL playoffs and the team doesn't have a first round draft choice because of the Carson Palmer deal, but the team has several talented players and with a couple of key moves this off-season they could find themselves in the hunt for the AFC West title in 2012.

http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981053076

 

[Animalmuther0]

I always thought the Colts would be a good fit for Hillis. With Manning pulling the trigger, and needing to change it up a bit, Hillis seemed a natural to run the rock or be the checkdown guy or an extra receiver. Addai is always nicked or something and is at best very average.

Hillis would've been a great fit with Clark, Collie.

 

[Don Wassall]

This writer seems to be a big Hillis fan and wants the 49ers to go after him, though a lot of the DWFs don't agree:

2012 NFL Free Agents: The Case For Peyton Hillis To The 49ers

http://www.ninersnation.com/2012/1/24/2730556/2012-nfl-free-agents-peyton-hillis-san-francisco-49ers

 

[sport historian]

Normally I wouldn't like the idea of Hillis going to an ultra-black-oriented team like the Raiders, but McFadden is injury prone and Bush is a FA and likely to sign elsewhere, so it might work out.

2012 NFL Free Agency Rumors – Peyton Hillis to Oakland Raiders?

January 23, 2012 06:31 PM EST

The 2011-12 NFL season was a big disappointment for the Oakland Raiders as the new coaching staff and several injuries hurt the team's chances of making the playoffs this year.

The team did find a player in Michael Bush as the backup running back filled in nicely for the injured Darren McFadden; and with this being the last year of his contract, he probably earned himself a big money deal with another team this off-season.

The Raiders will need to add some depth in the backfield and Peyton Hillis from the Cleveland Browns would make a terrific compliment to McFadden. The two backs played together at Arkansas and are close friends, and his running style fits what Oakland wants in a back. Hillis has over 2,000 career rushing yards and is a decent pass catching threat for a big back, but injuries and trouble with the Browns front office could cost him a big payday.

Oakland was expected to challenge for the NFL playoffs and the team doesn't have a first round draft choice because of the Carson Palmer deal, but the team has several talented players and with a couple of key moves this off-season they could find themselves in the hunt for the AFC West title in 2012.

http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981053076

Funny thing, there was a time when Al Davis' Raiders would have grabbed Peyton Hillis. In the 1970's, Marv Hubbard and Mark Van Eeghen were the main Raider ball carriers from the fullback position. Also Pete Banaszak was a reserve who played a lot.

The controversy about Hillis this year would have made the Raiders of the past even more inclined to acquire him.

 

[Don Wassall]

This Bleacher Report article urges the Browns to sign Hillis.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1040541-why-cleveland-browns-should-pay-peyton-hillis

 

[backrow]

it's a good article. i like this new formula of derived yards in which he led the league in 2010. imagine any other back behind this o-line and with this offensive cast... they would be lucky to get 2 yards a pop (ala Ogo and Hardesty

 

[dwid]

amazing how many people think of him as a team cancer. He played for Mangini with broken ribs and he kept coming back too early from his hamstring injury to try and play this year. They act like their team consists of players who would put the team above anything else. Like Vernon Davis, or Crabtree who held out forever because he thought he should have been drafted where the Oakland receiver was drafted. DHB was a bust but Crabtree hasn't proven to be a top 10 worthy pick, maybe 2nd-3rd rounder at best. 3 100 yard games in 3 years, never broke 1k.

For some reason many think Hunter is a great back. At least they realize how bad Dixon is "powerback who thinks hes barry sanders". I remember some draft "guru" on draftcountdown said he would do better than Gerhart and would wind up being one of the best of that class, and that Gerhart was nothing more than a career backup.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

I'd like to see Hillis in another uniform next year. I can't see him getting the carries he deserves with the Browns. But then again, I'm not sure most other teams would allow him to be the feature back, either. I'll just hope for the best.

 

[Don Wassall]

The latest turn in the long-running soap opera. From Weenieworld:

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns now want to re-sign Peyton Hillis after the impending free agent "worked his way back into the team's good graces" down the stretch. The Plain Dealer cautions that the Browns would only re-sign Hillis "at the right price," but their interest is renewed after a split looked inevitable in the season's first half. The Browns will begin contract talks with their free agents "over the next month or so." For the 26-year-old Hillis, a deal like Pierre Thomas' four-year, $11.2 million pact would be a reasonable starting point. Hillis may look more toward Ahmad Bradshaw's $18 million over four years.

 

[Anak]

I would hate for Hillis to be stuck in Cleveland.

 

[backrow]

i think Browns won't be able to afford this "reasonable price", since seemingly there's quite a few teams out there who could pay Peyton more. at least that's my hope.

 

[TheAnimal]

I seem to recall the rumor was their reasonable price to start the season was barely above league minimum. I doubt he returns to Cleveland.

 

[northwinds]

Rumor that Hillis and Browns have come to terms

http://www.walkthelinesports.com/2012/02/19/rumor-peyton-hillis-cleveland-browns-agree-to-terms/