Three weeks after Peyton Hillis elected to sit out Cleveland’s Week 3 game against Miami while dealing with strep throat, many are questioning his dedication to the team.
With two weeks to stew over the decision during the Browns’ bye week, speculation is bubbling over that Hillis skipped the game to protest not getting a new contract. And now the 25-year-old is voicing his doubt that Cleveland will re-sign him beyond this season — a disappointing reality for a player who has said he wanted to retire with the team that gave him a shot at the starting running back job one year ago.
Hillis has claimed his decision to skip the Dolphins game — a decision his agent, Kennard McGuire encouraged — was not motivated by his contract situation. But it’s clear he doesn’t feel the Browns are doing all they can to re-sign him.
Hillis said, “You feel unappreciated because you want to get something done and nothing has gotten done at this point. You don’t know the ultimate feelings in the end of what’s going on up top (in the front office). You take it with a grain of salt and you keep moving on.”
This is not the news that Hillis owners want to hear. Players typically give it their all in a contract year, but it appears that this has become a distraction for Hillis. He needs to put the perceived slight behind him and once again prove his worth on the field.
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