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September 23, 2011Week 3: The Browns Will Win If…
September 23, 2011Allegedly next in line for a new contract from the Cleveland Browns, running back Peyton Hillis is said to be at a bit of an impasse with the team’s front office.
Unfortunately dragging into the regular season – potentially due to the whole lockout and inability to engage with players during the offseason – the Browns front office had reportedly been working with Hillis’ new agent on a contract that would not only increase his compensation from the present amount of $600,000, but one that would keep last year’s surprise 1,000-yard back in the Orange and Brown for the next several seasons. Elsewhere in the NFL, running backs have been getting paid ad infinitum ranging from Chris Johnson pulling in Tom Brady Hanks money to Matt Forte and Frank Gore looking at new, considerably lighter deals as well. On Thursday afternoon, news broke from Berea that the two sides have reached a bit of a standstill and that there would be no contract to discuss.
There is something to be said about throwing considerable money at an up-and-down, bruising back that may limit his own shelf life due to his physical but very successful style of play. That said, Hillis has also provided the Browns with a running game which they had not seen in years despite thinly veiled attempts via the likes of William Green and a washed-up Jamal Lewis. Given that short shelf life, it is obviously in the best interest of Hillis to ensure additional guaranteed funds tied to his name; the sword therein has two edges as the Browns have to be smart in a business sense considering Hillis has only one year of a relative track record.
“It’s not up to me,” Hillis said of his limbo-like status. “If they want to come back and talk I’m open. I’ll keep that frame of mind and hopefully everything works out.”
The player has long stated that he would not let contract issues derail his mental toughness on the football field, but his voice and body language following Thursday’s practice was anything but that of a guy who looked pleased to be taking 30 hits per game on the contract of a seventh-round rookie. Not helping matters is the relative shunning of the Browns front office as general manager Tom Heckert sounded irritated that anyone would question a news item which had been prevalent for the last several weeks while the team has offered extensions to Joe Thomas, Evan Moore and Athyba Rubin.
Regardless of his peers’ pay day, Hillis insists that all focus is set on the task at hand as the Browns welcome the Miami Dolphins to town in what hopes to be a bit of a make-up win for the home crowd who witnessed an Opening Day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“It’s up to the head man upstairs and what the Cleveland Browns think of me. I take that approach with it and if they want me here then great.
“So I’ll just keep that attitude.”
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Photo via Jon Cole/WFNY
8 Comments
If he can prove he is capable of repeating what he did last year, then give him a new contract at the end of the season. If he breaks down again, then the team saves itself that money. I love Hillis, but with his style of running you have to really question his shelf life.
On the other hand, I can understand why he would be frustrated, considering that he has proven more than Evan Moore has (and I say that as a Moore fan).
Of course we should re-sign him. But I agree that we should wait until at least the bye week, to see if he can produce numbers.
I say sign him to a front-loaded contract, perhaps 3-4 years. That seems safer.
Not wise to simply scream “pay him” unless you know what he’s demanding and what the FO is offering. Based on what they paid Thomas and the others wouldn’t assume he’s being low-balled given his short track record.
If his voice and body language reveal a little disappointment, well, even the aw shucksiest get testy when teammates get big new contracts. See: The Phil Savage Money Toss Era.
I think you have to lock this guy up. I really don’t want to see what the offense would look like without him. How much could he really be asking for? It seems like running backs are greatly over valuing themselves recently. No way even Chris Johnson is worth the money he got. If we are talking 5 years 25 million I think we have to do it.
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From Heckert’s perspective, you have a young guy in Hardesty that you drafted for a reason. If its his belief that Montario can give you most of what Hillis does- which I do not believe- then you can hardball the guy. Now if Hillis is trying to get a 5+ year deal then I can see friction with that too. In an ideal world we lock Peyton up for the next 3 years, probably around 6 mil a year on avg., then in 3 years we see if he can still help out in some way hoping he hasnt taken too much of a beating.
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. I like what team HHS has been doing in signing the core players to long term deals.
Go Browns
“the aw shucksiest”… awesome, Harv!
Hope he doesn’t let this play out in the media like Cribbs did. I am confident that Heckart and Holmgren will get this figured out, just like they did with him. I am thinking a front-loaded, incentive-laden 3-4 year deal would be the way to go. Pay the man, but let’s not get stupid about it…