DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Hillis CIA report was bullcrap

Don't usually like to start new threads when there is existing thread on the subject matter but the story was bull from the start.

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Exclusive: Browns RB Peyton Hillis says CIA story false: "It makes me sound insane,'' would take discount to stay with Browns
Published: Friday, March 02, 2012, 7:30 PM Updated: Friday, March 02, 2012, 7:56 PM
Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
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peyton.jpgJOHN KUNTZ/THE PLAIN DEALERBrowns running back Peyton Hillis will probably hit the open market Mar. 13, but would take a hometown discount to stay with Browns.

CLEVELAND -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis, in an exclusive interview with the Plain Dealer today, said an ESPN report that he told coaches he was contemplating retirement toward the end of the season and joining the CIA was "100% false'' and "it makes me sound insane.''

He said he feels someone came up with the report to try to devalue him in free agency, but he has no idea who would do such a thing.

He also explained the firing of three agents in the past year, stressing that his last agent, Kennard McGuire, wasn't able to get anything done with the Browns and that he wanted to find someone who could.

He also said he'd love to stay with the Browns and that he'd take a "hometown discount'' to do so. He also said he thinks the team wants him to test the open market beginning next week and that he'd love to hear what they have to offer.

Here are some excerpts from the 30-minute interview:

ON HIM CONTEMPLATING RETIREMENT: "That's ridiculous. I never one time mentioned anything to any coach about retirement or joining the CIA or anything like that. That's pretty much ridiculous and 100% false. I don't know what's going on or who came up with a story like that, but they should've come up with a better one to make it sound more legit.''

ON THE CIA REFERENCE: "It makes me sound insane. Why would you give up football to go to the CIA? It's ridiculouos and it hurts what people think about you. And I think it's very unfair.''

ON THIS HURTING HIS REPUTATION: "Someone is trying to downplay my name. I really don't cause a big raucous. I pretty much keep my mouth quiet and go about my business. For this to happen, it was a rough year and I expected to come out here and be prepared for free agency or whatever the case may be, and to have all of this stuff come up before free agency is just ridiculous. I've always been a player that's gone out there and done my best. I've overcome a lot of obstacles and proved a lot of people wrong throughout my time. Right now, to have this stuff kind of hanging over your head, especially when it's 100% false, it's kind of rough. You know what kind of guy you are, you know what kind of player you are.

ON PAT SHURMUR NOT HEARING RETIREMENT/CIA TALK: "That should prove it right there. Whoever came up with the story should get their facts straight. You'd think if one coach would know, the other would know and so that tells you right there it's totally false.''

ON FIRING AGENTS: "The whole deal with Jimmy Sexton, my first agent, he was a great agent. There was nothing wrong, but it was just the marketing side. With the whole Madden cover thing coming up, they were able to get ahold of my brother Kyle, which enabled me to be part of that contest. I probably wouldn't be on the Madden cover if they hadn't reached Kyle. So it was more about marketing than anything else. Then I signed up with Kelli Masters. She had a good head on her shoulders and she worked really hard for me, but we felt at the time she hadn't done too many big contracts. We felt like this is the biggest time of our lives and we've got to make sure we had the right person going in. It was nothing against her. Then we signed Kennard McGuire, and we kept him all year, but things weren't getting done between him and the Browns, and a couple of days ago we decided to let him go.''

ON AN AGENT THAT COULD DEAL WITH BROWNS: "My priority was to find an agent that could get a deal done with the Browns. I've said all along that this was where I wanted to be, and I wanted to work with someone who had a good relationship with the Browns. I've heard from a few people, but I haven't made a decision yet.''

ON STAYING WITH BROWNS: "I've always loved this city and I still do love it and I still want to play for the Cleveland Browns. I'm not sure who wants me there and who doesn't want me there. It's out of my hands at this point. They've said they might want to re-sign me. If I was this horrible person, if I wasn't tough and if I was that big of a mental case, why would they still want to sign me? No matter what happens, I think I proved again and again wherever I go I think I'll make a splash.''

ON TAKING A HOMETOWN DISCOUNT: "Yea, of course, just because I want to be a Brown. It just depends on what they want to do. When free agency gets here, I'd love to hear them out.''

ON TESTING FREE AGENCY: "At this point, it looks like I'll have to. With the agent situation, I can't sign an agent for a few days, and I heard they just franchised Phil Dawson -- and I'm happy for him. I think they want me to test the free agent market and see what I can do out there.''

ON INTEREST FROM OTHER TEAMS: "I really don't know yet. I would think there would be. I think I've proven myself to be a hard-nosed back that can get the tough yardage and I think some teams will appreciate that.''

ON IF HE WAS ASKING FOR THE MOON: "It was nowhere near what people thought it was. I wasn't asking for $7 million a year. The Browns finally offered $25 million or $26 million over four or five years, but it was only about $1.2 million a year in the first three years. Then it was backloaded with a large amount that wasn't guaranteed. It wasn't the money, it's just how it was structured.''
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He said he feels someone came up with the report to try to devalue him in free agency, but he has no idea who would do such a thing.

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Perhaps the agent he just fired?

Perhaps some blow hard reporter looking to stir things up?

Well I'm glad that's over...

And he just officially put the ball in the Browns FO court...

A guy most fans like, says he WANTS TO BE HERE (how often do we here that?)

You almost have to get the deal done...

Did he have a bad year? Yes. Do I think he's a "One year wonder" ? No I don't.

The guy probably had the worst year of his football life, and the only thing he's really talking about is STAYING HERE as opposed to getting as far away from some of the things that caused it (aka the Cleveland Media)

I hope we get a deal done before FA starts, cause I think there are some people in KC that think he'd look really good in Red and White...

Agent works all year for Hillis and is about to hit payday and gets fired. That was my frist thought anyway. This one had the BS flag draped all over it from the start. I really detest this kind of stuff. Impossible to defend yourself against lies. By the time the truth comes out no one cares but they will remember the lie.

Depending on what he wants, I'd love to have him back.

4 million a year 4 years. 8 million guaranteed would work for me

I knew it all along.

I hope we do get a deal done with him. I like the guy. I'm not sure I'd break the bank for him, but I hope he stays.

Get the 5 yr/25 million dollar deal back on the table, starting out at like 2.5 million the first year and then increasing but making it non-guaranteed the last two seasons

Im a Hillis fan.
what would you expect him to say? Of course he is gonna come out and say its BS. Now let's get this contract ironed out fellas!

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Perhaps some blow hard reporter looking to stir things up?

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impossible,, we all know that no such animal exists

He's as good as gone....him discussing what the Browns offered with the media? That's a no go....he's gone imho and at this point I'm not sure I'll miss him

That is a little ...ummm, unconventional ...of him to say that, lol.

But, I'm going to hope that it's just him being candid. I think that regardless of who initiated the push for it, that he wants to see his worth in free agency. He's never been a free agent, so this is his big shot. We are probably thinking that we want him to test it and see that our money is closer to what he can expect. He's probably now thinking/hoping that he's going to see bigger dollars.

One way or another, the market will be set for us.... hopefully he gives us the opportunity to meet other offers.

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ON IF HE WAS ASKING FOR THE MOON: "It was nowhere near what people thought it was. I wasn't asking for $7 million a year. The Browns finally offered $25 million or $26 million over four or five years, but it was only about $1.2 million a year in the first three years. Then it was backloaded with a large amount that wasn't guaranteed. It wasn't the money, it's just how it was structured.''

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Wow, if this is true, then it makes the Browns look really bad.

Why shouldn't he say it if this is what's going on? They offer him a five year deal where he makes (comparatively speaking) next to nothing for the first three years, then two prohibitively large years where they have basically no choice but to cut him? That's a terrible deal, if true.

Of course, it doesn't say how much is up-front money.

agree if this is in fact true then it makes the FO look very cheap. considering they paid Gocong and Moore big bucks. Evan Moores deal is even worse considering Hillis touches the ball ALOT more than him. Hillis should be able to get 3-4 mil per year for a good 3-4years.

But with Hillis coming out and clearing things up, he just put the ball back in the FO's hands. Now its up to them to take the shot, I think Hillis did this to do two things. Get the fans back on his side, and to try to clear his name....both worked. Now its up to the Browns to get something done!

Pay Da Man!

I suspect he was talking about guaranteed money...the FO sure didn't offer 1.2mil/year...there probably were lots of incentive laden escalators to trigger or even simple roster bonuses....Hillis probably wasn't happy with the guaranteed part of the contract

Either way....with him saying that, he threw the FO under the bus, he's gone

I think this is all a cover up because he really is going be secret agent naught naught seven. You can't make this crap up. Only the Browns.

Agreed....and I don't think he threw them under the bus if that indeed was the offer.

On the eve of his one and (probably) only chance at a payday, someone in the Browns' organization leaks a BS report that effectively puts Hillis on a lot of teams' "10-foot-pole-list", and people think Hillis threw them under the bus by saying what was offered to him? I say, old chap, that sort of thing is frowned upon in league circles. It simply isn't done ... GMAB.

Adam Schefter quoted a source "inside the Browns" organization.

From the original Hillis / retirement / CIA thread ...

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Peyton Hillis retirement, CIA rumors catch Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur off-guard | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/03/peyton_hillis_retirement_cia_r.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Thursday that running back Peyton Hillis never told him he was contemplating retiring -- or considering a career in the CIA.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that, according to a Browns source, Hillis told Browns coaches as recently as the end of the season that he was considering hanging it up and was pondering a CIA career during the season.

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I suppose it could have been a player, trainer, or ball boy, but I doubt it.

Imo, no way that came from any credible source. Fishing for news...

Well he probably burnt some bridges talking about numbers but I'm glad he finally came out and told his side of the story. I was always taught their are always TWO sides to every story.

This is like the lousy mud slinging political campaigns we have to indure, one person trys to stay out of getting in the gutter but unless you strike back with your own crap, all of the sheep begin to believe WHATEVER some talking head is sayin.. Makes me want to pound someone.. I heard the reporter was gay and liked male horses.. Spread the word.

Yeah, Adam Schefter has an axe to grind with Hillis so he made up a story to ruin his career........Do you guys read what you type before you post it?

A little use of deductive reasoning says that is exactly what some on here are saying

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Perhaps some blow hard reporter looking to stir things up?



impossible,, we all know that no such animal exists

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Makes me want to pound someone.. I heard the reporter was gay and liked male horses.. Spread the word.

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Both quotes are saying, in essence, that the reporter made up the story. A story like this could seriously screw with Hillis's ability to get a decent contract in FA. The author is Adam Schefter.

Putting that all together might lead some to believe that Adam is trying to screw Hillis. Which is really beyond laughable.

See how that works?

What gets me both Shurmur and Hillis call the report bull and still Schefter puts this out there with no regard to how it is going to effect the man's livelihood. That is just low.

There was an unnamed source with direct knowledge of Adams Schefter that claims Adam was having an affair with a duck. when approached the duck refused to comment. WE have thus far failed to reach Adam for a comment.

It has as much validity to it as his story and it is the same game he used to create a headline.

Just ask yourself, "Who had more to gain?"

Schefter gains nothing if the report goes out and gains widespread play in the media. He's already a big deal in the sports reporting arena.

The Browns, however, might get a decidedly better deal with Hillis if everyone else thinks he's a bit of a nutbag.

I'm not saying this is what happened but, c'mon, AS has nothing to gain if this report is real or if it's false. In fact, if it's false he may actually lose some standing in the NFL community.

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Just ask yourself, "Who had more to gain?"

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I don't need to nor do I care to ask myself anything,, it's dumb

jk...

I'm growing tired of the public negotiations between Hillis and the Browns. The latest story concerning the low ball offer the Browns are said to have offered Hillis, is not helpful in the least.

If the Browns are going sign Hillis...do so...if not, CUT THE GUY.