Filed under: Browns, AFC North
The Broncos wanted quarterback Brady Quinn and the Browns just needed some draft choices for their rebuilding process. So for Quinn, the Broncos gave Cleveland a sixth-round pick for the 2011 NFL Draft and a conditional draft selection for the 2012 gathering, and probably for a kind gesture, threw in running back Peyton Hillis to sweeten the deal.And what a sweet deal it was, for the Browns.
Throughout the season, Hillis has been the Browns' (4-7) MVP as he carried this team on his back and defenders on his hips and thighs. Sunday against the Panthers was no different as Hillis streamrolled through Carolina for 194 yards from scrimmage, 131 yards on the ground off 26 carries and three touchdowns with six catches for 63 yards, in a 24-23 Browns victory.
"It's a physical presence. I don't think there's any doubt," said Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme, who returned to the starting lineup after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the team's season opener and reactivating his injury in Week 5. "It's a physical presence that even with an eighth man in the hole, he, for the most part, can move that person out of the hole. It's a confidence thing that our line has, that I have, that our receivers have. (It's about) giving him the football and letting him follow behind the line ... Peyton runs tough.
"Not only that, but in the passing game. He runs hard. I think his receiving skills and things like that -- those don't get enough credit. He's a running back that stays in the game on all three downs. A lot of guys can do that, but he does that extremely well."
According to Hillis, his career was "up in the air" and after having conversations with Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Hillis said that their talks were "friendly."
After being looked over by the Broncos because of their many backs and opportunity knocked on the door in Cleveland with the season-ending injury to rookie running back Montario Hardesty, Hillis killed any controversy about carrying the ball and now doesn't have to worry about his immediate future in Cleveland.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/peyton-hillis-worthy-of-mvp-conversation-if-not-for-record/
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