Today is the NFL Trade deadline, and one of the biggest names on the Cleveland Browns roster could be up for discussion if the Browns can hear the right offer. Running back Peyton Hillis, who is in the midst of contract negotiations after a big 2010 landed him on the cover Madden NFL '12, is rumored to be requesting a trade according to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:
↵↵↵Grossi says contract talks between the Browns and Hillis are "not going well," and that a trade request is likely the "next step." It's hard to imagine the Browns cutting ties with one of their few offensive weapons, though it's become clear they have little interest in inking their feature back to a lucrative long-term extension. While Hillis and his third agent in four months desperately struggle to maintain leverage, the Browns have little motivation to act on a trade request even if Montario Hardesty looms as a potential replacement.
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Of course, not all parties are happy with this trade. Hillis has been a major contributor for the Browns over the past several seasons. He seems more like a player to build a team around rather than one to trade away. He rushed for 1,177 yards last season in his first season with the Browns despite being a former 7th round draft pick. There could be some truth tot he rumors though, especially since Cleveland signed running back Chris Ogbonnaya from the Houston Texans after he was released last week. Could this be a sign the team is indeed planning to trade Hillis?