Frustrations Mounting in Berea

[Brown Warrior]

Don't know if this is anywhere else, but Holmgren sounds less than enthused about Hillis, negotiations, strepgate, etc. Let the controversy continue!!

Holmgren says Hillis talks are “kind of quiet” | ProFootballTalk

[Brown Warrior]

BTW... I have a feeling Hillis' value is on a downturn upon a downturn: The idea of big bucks on long-term deals to running backs is starting to feel old-fashioned and/or stupid. The Titans are winning more in spite of Chris Johnson while the Vikings and Panthers lose with Peterson and Williams.

Meanwhile, none of them plays for the Packers, Saints, Patriots, etc., or has ever been to a Super Bowl.

Then... as a wicked reminder... Hillis gets hurt as running backs will. At a time he's averaging 3.5 yards per carry, more proof that RBs are more dependent on a passing game than the other way around. As long as teams can stack the box, he's gonna have rough sledding.

If he ends up with 700 yards on 3.6 per carry, he's gonna wish he'd signed an extension.

[Greythan]

I heard John Clayton on the Columbus ESPN radio affiliate driving home tonight.

On Hillis he indicated his belief that a deal will get done and that Hillis is closer to a Bradshaw type deal ($4.4m per) than the extreme of Chris Johnson ($13m+ per). He thinks a deal will get done somewhere in the $5-6m per year range. I'd be good with that considering what we were willing to pay Gocong.

On another note, he indicated McCoy looks to have regressed some and quoted his recent inaccuracy problems as proof. He also indicated he has little help around him and that is what spawned the move for Little to start. He also thinks they need to use Moore more. All in all he likes McCoy (didn't rave, but likes him) and pointed out his youth as an NFL quarterback as a reason to have some patience.

[Brown Warrior]

The Wolf dude who has a ton of Twitter followers thinks the Browns and Hillis will do a deal but the Browns have the leverage now and it'll be more on the team's terms.

I want it to get done. I think he fits the WCO really well. Very good receiver, plays forward to set up 2nd and 7 even at worst, etc. But he needs the passing game to help him out a little.

[Riffer X]

I think it will work out unless Hillis develops animosity toward the organization. I don't think it is to that point yet, and I think we can get him for around 4.5 for about 3 years. It is a win win. I want the great kid to get paid, the fans to be happy and the team to not be strapped to an idiot contract, which I kind of think the Gocong signing was. Still don't get that one.