http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2011/...ap-he-advised-hillis-to-sit-out-dolphins-game
CLEVELAND (AP/92.3 The Fan) — The agent for Peyton Hillis says he advised the Browns’ bruising running back to not play recently with strep throat.
In an interview with Tom Withers of the Associated Press, agent Kennard McGuire said Hillis was too sick to play in the September 25th game against Miami.
McGuire was concerned that because Hillis had been weakened he “could have hurt himself and the team.” McGuire disputes reports Hillis’ absence was connected to him seeking a contract extension from the Browns.
Prior to Sunday’s game with Tennessee, Adam Schefeter of ESPN reported that Hillis’ contract situation influenced his decision not to play vs. Miami and that there were grumblings within the Browns organization suspecting that was why Hillis sat and not because he was too sick to play.
Browns Coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that Hillis was not “punished” for missing the game after receiving 10 carries in a 31-13 loss to the Titans that saw Colt McCoy set franchise records for passing attempts and completions in a single game.
“I think there’s a lot going on with that question or comment, but that’s not the case,” Shurmur said. “He played and he was a contributor (Sunday). I think what’s being talked about is something that happened two weeks ago. In my mind, it’s not an issue and as we move forward I hope it becomes something that we don’t talk about.
“He’s our running back, we handed him the football, we threw it to him and he did a good job.”
Shurmur spent much of his Monday morning press conference addressing the Hillis speculation.
“My understanding was that he was ill and he didn’t play,” Shurmur said. “That’s my understanding and so we moved forward and that’s when Hardesty played a lot. (Sunday), he (Hillis) was healthy and he played and he started and did a good job.”
Shurmur added that Hillis looked sick and that he could clearly tell he was not able to play.
McGuire said Hillis, who rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, has been affected by the ongoing contract talks and feels underappreciated.
Shurmur said that the team would never limit Hillis’ role because of an on going contract dispute
“Absolutely not, absolutely not. I think that’s a non-issue,” Shurmur said. “I think what you look at; you look at the game, you look at how it gets played out and at the end of the game you sit and look at a piece of paper that talks about what happened in the game. Well, the game changes as the score changes and we did some things where the score got stretched out on us, and you naturally now are trying to race yourself back into the game and a lot of times that involves throwing it. I would never think of throwing the ball 61 times. For some folks that might be fun, I would never do that if we’re in a situation where it’s different.”
McGuire said that he has been in “constant contact” with the Browns. He said both sides would like to reach a contract agreement “but are not aligned” on the value of a deal.
Prior to the Browns’ season opener Browns President Mike Holmgren said that the team was “trying like crazy” to resign Hillis.
The Browns have already signed Joe Thomas, Ahtyba Rubin, Evan Moore and Chris Gocong to contract extensions.