NBA Trade Rumors: Portland, Los Angeles and Minnesota close to three team deal
March 15, 2012While We’re Waiting… Looking for a little help, the best things about being an Indians fan and your new #1 RB
March 15, 2012Despite the Cleveland Browns front office claiming to have desire to retain running back Peyton Hillis, reports are circulating that the team never made an offer prior to Hillis’ acceptance of a one-year deal in Kansas City.
Hillis had rehired his old agent Jimmy Sexton with hopes of staying in Cleveland. He had also gone on record to state that he would be willing to take a “hometown discount” with the front office insinuating that the parties would look at terms that were financially feasible for both sides. Less than 24 hours into the free agency period, the back who amassed over 1,200 yards in 2010 agreed to a deal that would pay him $3 million in a reserve role.
The Browns running attack will enter camp with Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson, and any off-season additions. They will likely also need help on the offense of line having recently released Tony Pashos and Eric Steinbach.
Presently, the only speculation involving the Cleveland backfield regards interest in Houston Texans running back Ben Tate. The team has also been linked to running back Trent Richardson whom the team could potentially select with the fourth-overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
[Related: NFL Free Agency: Where’s all the Browns money?]
(Source: Mary Kay Cabot)
89 Comments
“Your” Montario Hardesty, eh?
what about Oggy?
yeah, we need to find another RB. I like Lamar Miller or Chris Polk at #37. Alot of people prefer VaTech’s Wilson.
Yeah that’s what I get for voice-posting from the car. Fixed.
I don’t understand why they are allowing these holes to be created when they had so many to begin with. It would be perfectly fine to let these guys walk if they are going to sign FA to replace then or had depth at these positions.
I remember several times last year when addressing the O-Line they kept saying “Once Steinbeck is healthy…
“I would think signing Hillis to a 1 year 3 million deal is worth it alone just for the good PR and so they can focus on other positions.
Here is hoping they can swap first rounders with St Louis or the Jets and pick up 2 more 2nd rounders. At this point they basically need everything but LT, C, 3rdWR and maybe TE on offence.
Hillis had one good (borderline great) year. He sounds like he’s a bit of a headcase, and last year he was more trouble than he was worth. If they draft Richardson, or can get a guy like Tate, next year at this time we will wonder why everyone was so upset about not keeping Hillis.
I’m a bit more puzzled about releasing Steinbach…but maybe there are some concerns about his back? It also sounds like they could potentially bring him back if he doesn’t get a better offer elsewhere.
Again, as Abbott and Costello said, “So, there is a hole in the boat and water is coming in? Your solution is to put a hole in the other side of the boat to let the water out!”
This regime is incorrigible with their lack of intelligence. And don’t give me any lines about “he had one year, blah blah blah.” He was the ONLY major weapon this offense had, the only player other teams had to game plan for.
Way to go, Browns.
I just don’t even know anymore. I can’t see what the plan is, I can’t rationalize their reasoning and they offer nothing to try and help their fans at least understand what is/is not happening.
And so maybe we will have Ben Tate and Montario Hardesty. Might as well find out who Arian Foster’s backups were in high school and Pop Warner and give them a contract too
yeap.. looking like we’re drafting a RB. im cool with wilson in the 2nd round or pead with one of our 4ths. i gotta think cincy will grab a RB (richardson if he’s there, miller if he’s not) with one of their picks right before us.
Can someone explain to me how the Browns “never made an offer” to Hillis, despite making numerous offers at a number of points throughout and after the season?
I’ve been drooling over Doug Martin since bowl season. Those listed above are good backs too, I just really like Martin’s build and ability to catch and move in space in this offense.
i am inclined to think the browns know more than we know about hillis’ thigh. he suffered a calcification of muscle in college. it does not go away.
im giving berea the benefit of doubt here and calling this non-signing a smart move.
He had one good year.
Jim, the non-knee-jerkiness of that statement is a breath of fresh air. You just brightened my day and I thank you. Also, that is a valid and outstanding point. He had the same issue in college and in years past, that forced him to miss a multitude of games.
“And don’t give me any lines about “he had one year, blah blah blah.”
Is there something inaccurate about that statement?
It’s not like teams were falling all over themselves for his services if he signed a one year, $3 million deal in KC. I’m quite confident that GM’s across the NFL know more about HIllis than we do, and chose not to throw big bucks at him for a reason.
He was certainly a good player when healthy (about half the time) , and I liked his running style. I would have been fine with bringing him back for the right price. But it’s not like he isn’t replaceable.
“And don’t give me any lines about “he had one year, blah blah blah.”
Is there something inaccurate about that statement?
It’s not like teams were falling all over themselves for his services if he signed a one year, $3 million deal in KC. I’m quite confident that GM’s across the NFL know more about HIllis than we do, and chose not to throw big bucks at him for a reason.
He was certainly a good player when healthy (about half the time) , and I liked his running style. I would have been fine with bringing him back for the right price. But it’s not like he isn’t replaceable.
We are drafting T Rich at #4. That is why there was no offer.
We are drafting T Rich at #4. That is why there was no offer.
Well, he did have one good year. Is there something inaccurate about that statement?
It’s not like the rest of the NFL was falling all over itself to sign him to a huge, multi-year, big money contract. If he is so great, and we are stupid for not paying him big bucks , then so is the rest of the league.
Well, he did have one good year. Is there something inaccurate about that statement?
It’s not like the rest of the NFL was falling all over itself to sign him to a huge, multi-year, big money contract. If he is so great, and we are stupid for not paying him big bucks , then so is the rest of the league.
What in the hell is the right price? Jesus H…is two years, $2.5M alright to you? Don’t you get it? They are idiots; this guy was a fan favorite and the ONLY player the opposing team had to account for on our offense. Now, who the heck do we have? Wake up man.
🙂
i know ive been a broken record on this point but it’s always bothered me. im more tuned into it than most of you in NEO because i was here in boston when cam neely’s career was cut short due to the same condition (after the ulf sammuelsson cheap shot/leg check). the condition actually turns muscle into bone and cannot be surgically removed. neely is said to have a mass of bone the size of a brick in his thigh muscle to this day. it’s not a stretch to think the leg issues hillis had this year were somehow related to the prior condition.
big bucks? our kicker makes more
Congratulations! You just won one free internet!
I hope you like 3-4 win seasons.
While it is true he was hurt last year, that does not change the fact that he was the only player on the Browns able to get consistent yardage. At the end of last year when he was finally healthy, he gained consistent yardage.
One good year is one good year more than just about everybody else on this team has had.
Also, remember this: Daboll was his coordinator when he played well. Coincidence that he goes back to a man who wanted him as a major player in his offense? I disliked Daboll as much as the next guy, but at least he knew to run Hillis.
Haha, well said.
if t rich is the guy, i could see us trading back with say a dallas to take him there. richardson wont get past cincy. ironically i thought kc would be a candidate to take him but that’s probably out the window now. id be very surprised if we took him at 4…*
*the ‘i know nothing and am just guessing’ caveat applies to this and all my draft conjecture. somehow, it needed to be said.
Congratulations! That still doesn’t contribute anything to your initial point! You win one free broken record!
It seems you are saying that negativity regarding whatever the heck the Browns plan is unfounded knee jerk reaction… That just simply is not true
Giving Berea the benefit of the doubt…… ok, fair enough. Here are the starting QB’s we’ve had to start the past 12 seasons, thanks to Berea: (I’d list the starting running backs, but I can’t remember who most of the were other than Jamal Lewis who was washed up when we got him)
1999: Ty Detmer2000: Tim Couch2001: Tim Couch2002: Kelly Holcomb (Couch injured)2003: Kelly Holcomb (Couch not injured)2004: Jeff Garcia2005: Trent Dilfer2006: Charlie Frye2007: Charlie Frye2008: Derek Anderson2009: Brady Quinn
2010: Jake Delhomme
2011: Colt McCoy
Hmmm… now that I think about it, I’m giving Berea the benefit of being a bunch of idiots that can never make a decent move at any position. Thanks Berea, for letting the best offensive player we’ve had in 12 years walk out for a stinking 3 mil. Well done.
When he was on the field. I have to believe between the drama he created off the field combined with the burnt bridges in the locker room and FO he wasn’t likely to get what he wanted here. The way I see it, he takes the one year contract with KC because he wants to measure his individual worth and hit the market again and get paid. That isn’t a team player and that is fine, if he really was giving the home town discount he was talking about and really wanted to stay a Brown, he would have accepted the offers made to him throughout the year.
I know other s have stated this but its just so frustrating following this team. Why are we creating more holes? especially when we won’t address said holes in free agency. Now were going to probably waste a draft pick on a running back when we could have used the pick on another position. He is better then any running back we have ahd since we have come back to the league. This team is becoming harder and harder to root for.
He had 6-7 good games.
I like Hillis, but reject the suggestion the Browns have created a new hole. He WAS the hole, because of his inability to stay healthy and generally keep a professional head about him.
So what they had to decide was this: how much cap space do we risk gambling that Future Hillis will be like 2010 Hillis fill the hole created by 2011 Hillis? Their decision may turn out wrong but they certainly have more info about him, on and off the field, than the Chiefs do.
letting Hillis go in and of itself is fine with me. I was afraid he might fumble every time he carried the ball and tried to jump over somebody. My frustration comes from the inconsistency in the front office…they moved in the draft to get a guy who was plagued by injuries in college. Last year in free agency they gave a 2 year, 4.5 million dollar contract to a guy who averaged 3.83 yards a carry on a really good team (his missing the entire year because of injury, while not good, is not germane to the argument, as it’s not their fault they couldn’t see the future). But the only guy on the entire freaking team who has done anything of merit in the past 2 years?!?! naah…we don’t need him. We have a plan.
In my mind, there is no benefit of the doubt. They are certainly free to do whatever they want, but it better start trending upward quickly.
You can’t defend Joe Thomas somewhere else then forget to mention him having great seasons since his draft here.
YOUR OWN AGENDA!! 😉
Brian Daboll has been the offensive coordinator for 3 different teams in 3 different years….your argument is invalid.
you’ll find me in the oribiasi zone concerning the browns’ front office and coaching on most days. but in this case, they surely know more about his health than we do and really cant say anything publicly about it.
he’s not an offensive threat if he’s not on the field.
I don’t need to contribute anything to my point. It stands on its own. The regime MAKES more holes than it could ever possibly fill with rookies. It’s insane. Pathetic. Dumb. Pick an adjective.
False. You all can be as negative as you want to be about the plan or accused ‘lack thereof’. What I AM saying is unfounded, is the knee jerk reaction to the news they didn’t try to sign a guy who is, in my opinion, over valued by most Browns fans.
Can’t wait until Steinbeck is healthy. I loved The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men is a classic – but no novel has ever beaten East of Eden. The best ever. Not sure how he would do at LG, though.
I kid. I kid.
Are internet editors like myself annoying?
The sky is falling because we didn’t re-sign Peyton Hillis. You “chicken little” types are funny.
So we should sign guys because they are fan favorites? Riiight.
Perhaps between the injury issues and him being a bit of a head case, the front office decided that there are better options to pursue . (Like Trent Richardson for example) Again…if Hillis is so damn great, why wasn’t there a bidding war when he hit the market? What do you know about HIllis that the entire NFL doesn’t?
If 2 years at 2.5 million would have gotten it done, I would have been OK with that. But apparently H & H didn’t feel he was worth bringing back…and I’m OK with that too. They know a lot more about him, his health, and his mental state than any of us do. I will defer to them on this one.
Basically, I can take or leave Hillis. Chances are he is not going to be a long-term, above average RB in this league…and I assume that’s what H & H are looking for. And I would say the odds of us drafting Richardson just went up quite a bit…
Honestly, I think that list speaks more about the ownership and lack of leadership in the FO than anything else. If you cant put the right decision makers in place you are bound to suffer the fate we have. I disagree that H&H are at that level yet, although I know quite a few people that would disagree with me.
You just brightened my day with that.
Totally agreed that Hillis is WAY overvalued by most Browns fans.
“Thanks Berea, for letting the best offensive player we’ve had in 12 years”
The best offensive player on a 5 and 4 win team during the two years he was here.
Your argument is invalid.
Well said.
The frustration is that nobody is telling us the plan; not that they let Hillis walk.
That makes sense