Cleveland Browns' Joe Thomas Says What Everyone Was Thinking About Peyton Hillis

By Ryan Ruiz
Eric P. Mull-USA TODAY Sports

One of the leaders on the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas came out today and ripped Kansas City Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis in today’s talks with the media. I love it! Thomas didn’t say anything that most Browns fans were already thinking or believed. So just what did Thomas say about the former Browns player?

The Pro Bowl left tackle was asked numerous questions about his former teammate. Here’s what Thomas had to say about Hillis being a distraction.

“It was a terrible distraction. To have Peyton going through a contract dispute and basically refusing to play, it was a big distraction, but more than anything, because sometimes I think distractions are overrated, he was our starting running back that was a good player who was going to help us be a successful offense. When he’s not there and you don’t have anybody to turn to, it makes it hard to win. And that’s the distraction, it’s not being successful.”

By Thomas’ words, you can easily tell he was irked.

Thomas and others offered Hillis encouraging advice and help, but the Madden cover boy refused it.

“The frustrating thing to a lot of teammates was you try to talk to him and you try to tell him ‘That’s not the right way to do it if you want to get your big contract.’ He just wouldn’t listen to anybody. People who thought they were very close friends with him … he wouldn’t listen to anybody. He thought he knew what was the right way to do it and it ended up not being the right way and it ended up hurting everybody. Not just himself. It was a tough situation,” Thomas said. He made a great point when he used Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears as an example on how to get the “big” contract the right way.

The sad thing is the whole city loved and fed off of Hillis. I have never seen so many no. 40 jerseys in my life when I attended every home game in 2010. The city rallied behind him and anointed Hillis the face of the franchise. It all went downhill fast.

Granted, Hillis had a phenomenal year in 2010, gaining 1,654 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns, but it was Browns fans that pushed him over the edge for the cover of Madden ’12, despite what anyone says.

I commend Thomas for saying everything about the drama queen Hillis. Arguably, Hillis has ruined his promising career by leaving Cleveland. He is just another name to add to the list of villains that haunt the Cleveland faithful.

Ryan Ruiz – Cleveland Browns Writer

Please Follow Me on Twitter @ryanpruiz24

 

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