While We’re Waiting…Fujita Says Colt’s a Young Drew Brees, and DET Eliminates NY
October 7, 2011Ohio State, Basketball School?
October 7, 2011I am sorry to delve into the speculation, but I am truly not trying to fill some gossip void for my own pleasure at the expense of the Browns and Peyton Hillis. Some of the other media and fans in this city? Not so sure.
Last night Peyton Hillis used Twitter to try and end the ugly chapter of the last few weeks regarding his sickness against the Dolphins.
That’s awfully nice of him to say. Good of him to clear the air, right? Either that or he is completely and totally lying because according to an unsourced speculative piece at Yahoo! with a question marked headline, Peyton Hillis will be seeking a trade before the October 18th deadline. Really.
Last year, the Cleveland Browns finished with a record of 5-11. This year, the team is tied for third place in the AFC North with a record of 2-2. So things are looking up, right?
Not if you are running back Peyton Hillis(notes). The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Hillis and the team have been talking about a contract extension and the conversation isn’t “going well.” IN fact, they are going so poorly that Hillis is expected to re quest a trade before the October 18 deadline. He currently is making $600,000 annually.
So there you have it! Peyton Hillis either wants to retire as a Cleveland Brown, or he will demand a trade before the trade deadline.
Let’s think about a couple things. Peyton Hillis could be playing good cop to his agent’s bad cop. His agent might be planning to ask for a trade and is floating that through the media as a way to try and get the Browns to more willingly pony up with the Lerner checkbook. That doesn’t keep Peyton Hillis from wanting to be a Cleveland Brown and retire in this city. They aren’t mutually exclusive, technically. It just might mean that he is leaving out the part where he and his agent want to be paid like one of the top five running backs in the league while retiring as a Cleveland Brown.
Or maybe Yahoo! is just speculating idly. There is some support for that. Since when does the trade deadline mean much of anything in the NFL? Baseball and basketball have turned their deadlines into seasonal events, but the NFL up to this point has not. There is a new CBA in place, but I haven’t heard of anything in the new deal that would somehow make the trade deadline more interesting than it has been in years past.
Let’s just end with some speculation of our own. Peyton Hillis probably isn’t worth the money he is seeking. If he was, the Browns would have already signed him up as they did Evan Moore, Chris Gocong and Joe Thomas. Peyton Hillis isn’t worth a ton on the trade market. He is a very good player who had one very good year, but plays at a position that isn’t notable for player longevity or consistency. If Peyton Hillis could garner a second round pick, I bet the Browns would have traded him already. With that kind of reality in the marketplace, the Browns won’t be trading Hillis anytime soon.
I haven’t really talked about the thing with Hillis’ agent either. I believe his agent advised him not to play if he was too sick, but I doubt highly that it was the deciding vote. The agent said he told him that, but let’s not pretend like doctors and trainers weren’t involved in the decision. Guys like Peyton Hillis (and apparently Alex Mack) need to be protected from themselves sometimes. The concussion rules are proof of this. The media and fans are making a mountain out of this molehill.
In the end, this was bound to happen. Peyton Hillis is drastically underpaid. He hasn’t had a chance to prove he is more than a one-year wonder. Then again, this could be his one big opportunity to cash in as an NFL player. Based on what I am guessing is happening between the two parties, I am not surprised about the contractual impasse. I believe Peyton Hillis when he says he would have played if he could have against Miami.
41 Comments
i thought Grossi’s article came out first. if he wasn’t the main reason that Art Modell is being kept out of the HOF, then he’d be a worthless media story-inventor.
but really, whatever. it’s just the media reading the tea leaves and the standard negotiating ploys. player wants to get paid, player hires 3 agents in 4 months because negotiations don’t go the way he wants, other players on team get extensions, only leverage for player is impending FA and a possible trade request.
I suspect that the Browns FO doesn’t flinch and something gets worked out down the line.
oh, one point of contention where I feel bad for the players. the FO is always going to try to project a player’s value during his contract. the player, however, will see how underpaid he was for his current contract and wants some of that difference put into his contract as well.
and really, some of it should be, but a good FO will make it as little as possible (otherwise the contract becomes bloated going forward).
I believe Hillis too about the Miami game and I also believe all of this contractual garbage is distracting him and the coaching staff. I understand both sides here – Hillis is looking to cash in on an extended contract playing a position and with a style that are likely to give his career a short shelf life, while the Browns are hesitant to make an investment in a player without a proven long term track record and the easy potential to break down.
On the field, the Browns need to play Hillis – despite this drama he’s still their biggest offensive threat. As for Hillis, he can’t worry about this contract stuff. He’s just going to have to play his ass off this season so that the Browns or another team in free agency will pay him.
Why would a player about to become an unrestricted free agent next season ask for a trade? In this situation, a trade is more valuable for the franchise, who is looking to get something for a player that may leave them at the end of the season. I’m with you, Craig. They are making mountains out of a mole hill.
Teams set themselves up for this kind of situation when they give extensions to the Chris Gocongs of the world without first addressing their stars. The exact same thing happened with Revis and the Jets a year or two ago.
If you were Hillis and saw that they were handing out deals to guys who weren’t nearly as productive or Madden Covering as you, wouldn’t you be upset?
Not that it excuses if he purposely sat out a game, but both sides are at fault, here.
Hillis is this close [holds thumb and index apart approximately 2 inches] to being the next topic for everyone that still hates Jim Thome. Please, Peyton, don’t mention anything about your shirt . . .
“I am sorry to delve into the speculation, but I am truly not trying to fill some gossip void for my own pleasure at the expense of the Browns and Peyton Hillis… Let’s just end with some speculation of our own. Peyton Hillis probably isn’t worth the money he is seeking.”
Oh. Saying a player probably isn’t worth what he seeks requires some teeny weeny factual basis, no? So what money is Hillis seeking, and over how many years? What are the Browns offering, in money and years? Nah, we ain’t like dem other guys, the transparent hit-hunters on a slow Friday of the bye-week..
Craig last week about Hillis: “I just don’t see any upside in getting involved in the he said, he said, he said speculation cycle. It feels very 8th grade to me.”)
Last week you claimed to want to deal in only facts. Here’s one: when a player changes agents twice within a year he wants money and wants it now. And the agent is under pressure to produce it because he sees the smoking wreckage of the last unpaid agenton the side of the road. We really don’t know much else right now.
I love Peyton’s playing style, he had a great year last year, and the whole Madden thing is a great story…but we would be foolish to overpay for him. The front office is doing the right thing. Hold pat, make him a reasonable 2-3 year offer, and if that’s not good enough, go find another RB in the draft or in free agency next year…we’re going to have some cap money to play with.
You’re a good player and you seem like a nice guy, Peyton…and I hope you stay…but we shouldn’t tie up top 5 RB money in you when we have some many other needs to address. Sorry, man…
I wish this would go away. Seriously, Shurmur and Holmgren need to get a hold of this situation and media frenzy NOW before things get even worse.
I have to say, the season thus far for the FO and coaching staff alike has been less than stellar. I would have thought the FO could handle something like this and I thought Shurmur would know to speak in absolutes when it comes to his players and their toughness/playing time. Really poorly handled all around thus far.
Hmmmmmmmm, should we believe what Peyton Hillis himself says, or what some guy on Yahoo! speculates??
@Harv 21 did you find my article to be attempting to cover both sides and be reasonable in its speculation? Did you find the tone to be less titillating than some of the more egregious reports over the last week?
It is very difficult to cover the topic while attempting to avoid the gossipy feel. I did my best to provide some even analysis of the facts and describe the situation as pretty natural even as I speculated a bit here and there.
You picking out one line that sounds slightly gossipy doesn’t paint the whole article, I don’t think. I truly appreciate you trying to keep me / us in check, but I think I did a pretty good job of it all on my own this time.
Are we really angry because a guy got paid to do what we do as fans everyday? Obviously, this story (no matter how ridiculous) got legs and media outlets would be foolish to sit on their hands and not cash in. I don’t get why everyone pretends to be so morally superior to these media types when they’re just doing what they get paid to do. If I got paid, you can bet I’d do the same thing. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. #RealTalk #HashtagsAreFun
Really disappointed to see this perpetuated on this website. I am a first time poster but daily reader of WFNY mostly because I need a reasonable outlet to read about Cleveland sports. Grossi is a gossip queen and started this topic – Hillis is a fan favorite, wants to stay, contract negotiation is ongoing – let’s just see what happens and stop speculating. You’re better than this WFNY
If it’s true, then Grossi strike again. It wasn’t bad enough he was unprofessional when Mangini was here, now he is stirring up rumors about Hillis. How is this guy employed still?
@stin With you 100% on the FO thing. This has thus far not been the competent leadership I was expecting at the top with the new regime. Yes, the H&H drafts have been solid to be sure, but the PR side of things has been as inept as ever. Holmgren goes public about how hard we’re trying to get a deal done for Hillis, making what should have been routine illness news seem like something more. Then Shurmur needed to back his guy to the media and didn’t, opening things to speculation in a town who’s MSM loves nothing more than to do just that. Really disappointing situation that’s only going to get worse, and it was almost entirely preventable.
BTW: This whole “trade talk” started with Grossi on the “Browns Insider” video at http://www.cleveland.com/browns. Dan Labbe and Dennis Manoloff (sp) were talking with Grossi and asked him about the next step with Hillis and the contract. Grossi merely answered the question, according to what usually happens in cases like this, where the two sides are very far apart. Paraphrasing Grossi… The trade deadline, while not typically active in the NFL, is an intriguing way for Hillis’ agent to keep the story in the news. Its the BYE Week, there is nothing else going on with a game or anything, so it makes sense that the agent spoke up about the Miami game to get his client’s story to dominate the newscycle and fill the void during the BYE. In that aspect, I’d say the guy knocked it out of the park, even if he made his client look bad in the process.
If you want my honest opinion, every party involved, from Hillis to the agent to Shurmur to the media to the fans, have an equal stake in making this story into what it has become. No one is any better than the rest. Enjoy the ride!
I hate this soap opera. It’s meaningless, irrelevant, and completely pointless.
I think we’ve pretty much beaten it to death. ENOUGH!
This whole thing is stupid, it shouldn’t be as big as it is. The man was sick, he didn’t play. Big deal, get over it, we still won the game.
@ Garry Owen — You’re right, how dare we hold people to their completely voluntary statements of loyalty!
@Craig: first, I apologize for the overly prosecutorial tone. You didn’t deserve a rolled up newspaper and my tone varies sometimes depending on the quality of my day. Realize you are not someone who is overly sensitive to comments, so sorry.
Actually no, though, I don’t see the fine distinctions between these speculations. I’m not reading a lot of other stuff, by choice and for this very reason, and I think repeating it and then adding your own greases a fire that shouldn’t have been ignited in the first place. But a more modulated comment by me would have been that you are kind of doing the same speculation, taking a stand before we know facts even if modifiers like “probably” and “could be seen,” etc.
You probably won’t agree with this at all, but WFNY is now an established Cleveland sports source and as such I hold you guys to a higher standard than Lonely Basement Dude with Blog and Endless Loud Opinions. I like the flexibility a blog gives you – it’s music today! No, poetry! – but not sloppy reporting or ideas in pursuit of Almighty Speed.
(woops, I’m doing it again. End rant, good job, god bless, great weekend folks)
Only in Cleveland do fans cry about the Indians trading a Cy young winner cause they have to and seem ok with all of a sudden thinking letting Hillis go is an ok idea.
I mean if the FO really thinks they are better off going in a direction different than giving Hillis at least a very good contract the are insane. Yea he plays RB and the longevity at that position is limited but he is a legit star and a very good back. We need MORE weapons on offense not less
@Harv 21 as always I appreciate the comments. You have a nice weekend too.
I would just add that it might be instructive to read some of the other things that have been said around the various media outlets and blogs. In light of the outlandish and egregious words that have been spoken and written surrounding this issue, I think it might give some perspective as to the reason that I felt like discussing this at all. My words don’t live in a vacuum.
Suggesting that a player isn’t worth what they are seeking isn’t so much as throwing grease on a fire as saying the sky is blue in my opinion. Maybe I could have phrased some of it better.
Craig, I agree that people need to survey the landscape before forming a well-rounded opinion on the issue as a whole. However, I would caution if you meander too far into the abyss of opinion you may be surprised at what you find.
“THIS IS MADNESS!! HOLGREM IS THE GM!! HE SHOULD DO SOMETHING BEFORE THIS GETS OUT OF HAND!” Say what now? O_o
stop the insanity, is this what happens when OSU football goes into the tank?
All I’ll say is this. If the Browns trade or don’t pay (for that matter PLAY) Hillis, it will do a lot to change my views on who I root for on Sunday.
Cribbs was one thing but, Hillis is clearly talented and is clearly underpaid. If they can’t do the right thing by him, it not only sends a message to us as fans but, to other future free agents.
I believe I’m happy the man had the common decency to not get his teammates sick. I’ve been struck with an office-clearing illness before and it wasn’t a big deal to our thousands of loyal fans (because we don’t have any).
Hope this “tempest in a teapot” gets resolved soon.
My opinion is Hillis would have played the Dolphin game if he was able to. I just don’t see him giving less than maximum effort at any time. (After having typed the two previous sentences, I realize that my opinion and $4 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks…)
It would be great if the Browns could sign Hillis for a 3 year contract as long as it is not in the same ballpark as the crazy numbers for Chris Johnson and others. How about 4 million signing bonus and base salaries of 1.5M with incentives to reach 3M per year? Keeping financial flexibility for the future will be key.
If he turns a deal like the above down, then he will walk at the end of the season.
I would much rather see him re-sign with the Browns, so they are not looking for a replacement running back in the first two rounds of the 2012 draft.
I am hoping that the draft lines up something like below:
Round 1 Pick 1 – Blackmon (WR – OK St) or Jeffries (WR – South Carolina).
Round 1 Pick 2 – Adcock (RT – OK St) or Datko (RT – FSU)
Round 2 – Irvin (OLB – WVU) or Minnifield (CB – UVA)
As always…Go Browns
Hasn’t Yahoo! gotten in a whole bunch of credibility scandals of late? I thought they abandoned all credible reporting years ago.
All I know is EA better offer up the Madden Cover jersey update for free…no way my OCD handles the player on the cover with the wrong jersey
/BretFavre’d
madden curse.
RUSH is still the worst band ever too just fyi.
@ woods – that’s what I’m talking about. Make the guy a respectable, reasonable offer…maybe even throw in a little extra for good will and to make up for what he hasn’t been getting the past couple years…but let’s not get stupid about it. The last thing we need is to end up with the football version of Travis Hafner’s contract.
Trade him since we got him for nothing. He won’t be around for long with his running style.
I sympathized with Hillis until seeing he has gone through 3 agents this year. Peyton, abide by your contract, play great football this year, then cash in. Until then, tell you agent to shut up. You are a distraction to a team that doesn’t need it. Play ball.
Craig, are you sure that article wasn’t written by Michigan Man Dan Wetzel?
@ Paulbip
Great idea and awesome reasoning. Since we got him for nothing let’s ignore that he is our best offensive player. Maybe we should trade him for nothing too, sound good?
Serious question: is this Hillis’ best agent of the past year, or worst? Provided this is all scripted, Im leaning towards best. Pay the kid.
A few points:
1. I truly do believe that Hillis was too sick to play vs. Miami. I have nothing but respect for what he’s done as a Brown and will readily give him the benefit of the doubt.
2. What’s really annoying to me is that Shurmur has had 2 weeks to put this to rest by just saying “He couldn’t go, it was my decision to send him home” (even if it’s not the truth), and he has failed to do so. Had he done so, I truly don’t believe this would’ve ever become an issue.
3. As much as I do like Hillis, I am glad the Browns seem to be showing financial restraint with him. The fact that Hillis keeps changing agents and a deal hasn’t yet been finalized also indicates to me that Hillis may be asking for too much. No facts to support that, just a hunch.
4. Based on what I’ve seen, I really don’t think Hillis likes Shurmur too much and this situation certainly isn’t helping.
5. The WR from South Carolina is Alshon Jeffrey, not Jeffriies. Everyone and their mother (even on TV) keep calling him the latter.
Just look at Cribbs numbers after the extension. How many kicks has he run back? If I were ownership I would not cave in to the Hillis demands. As a fan I would want him too.
Two points:
1. Hillis only tweeted that he hoped to RETIRE in Cleveland. He said nothing about wanting to PLAY for Cleveland. Maybe I’m splitting hairs, but there’s a difference.
2. The Browns are tied for second place, not third. If the Yahoo writer can’t read the AFC North standings correctly, how can he report rumors correctly?
One thing nobody has mentioned is that Hillis is less important now that they’re going full WCO. Classic Browns – rebuild by choosing the system that least fits the personnel you have. I predict that he will leave and flourish for another team, while the Browns continue to collect good WCO-type players, just in time to go 6-10 next year, fire Shurmur, and start to collect smash-mouth players a 3-4 defense players (or whichever is the opposite of what they’re doing now – I lose track).