Browns running back Peyton Hillis had a disappointing season marred by injury in 2011, but a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the team still has interest in bringing him back next season. After rushing for 1,177 yards in 2010, his first season in Cleveland, Hills missed five games in the middle of 2011 with a hamstring injury. He returned, however, to make 101 carries for 376 yards over the final six weeks of the season. Hillis becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but it appears the interest in keeping him around next season is mutual. “I’m a Cleveland Brown at heart,†Hillis said at the conclusion of the season. “Since I’ve been here, I fell in love with the fans and the city and the people that live here. They’ve been nothing but 100 percent supportive through everything when I talk to them. It’s good to have a second family backing me like that.†Source: Sports Illustrated
It'd be big to get him back, whether it will happen still seems murky. The team would avoid a big hole at RB by keeping him and would allow Heckert to focus more important positions in the draft. I think there's just no way anybody can give him big money, that's the way I see Hillis returning, but who knows.
I think they have to try and bring him back. Even with him, they need another RB. Hardesty has showed nothing. Nothing good anyway. I like Ogbonnaya though.
I like Ogbonnaya, that guy played hard every game he was in. I could see Cleveland using Hillis and Ogbonnaya together effectively.
Hardesty hasn't been terrible. I mean he definitely hasn't shown anything close to what would justify the cost of drafting him, but he can be explosive. I still firmly believe this past season imploded from the get-go because of the injury to Steinbach. The offense didn't have a chance to be balanced with such a big hole in the line, which had little depth to begin with. Hardesty won't be a superstar but he's not as bad as you make him out to be, just in my opinion.
My thing with Hardesty is, will he ever make it through an entire season, somehow I doubt it. The dude is injury prone.
I would love to be wrong, I just haven't seen it yet. I agree about Steinbach. Not getting another option at RT and letting Vickers go were just as bad for the running game.
And not to go askew but it was all exacerbated by the lockout. New offense/defense, coaches, and a shift from one of the oldest teams to the youngest, I said all along they were hurt by lack of training camp more than anybody else. I'm excited to see what the club does with another offseason (with draft ammo) and full camp.
