ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the Cleveland Browns will not use their franchise tag on running back Peyton Hillis.
Schefter’s report also says that, during the 2011 season, Hillis contemplated retirement, and even considered joining the CIA.
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Hillis played in just 10 games last season due to injuries. He had 161 rushes for 587 yards, an average of just 3.6 per attempt. In 2010, he had 1,177 yards and averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Schefter quotes Cleveland GM Tom Heckert saying,
“If we can work something out with Peyton (Hillis) we will,” Heckert told ESPN. “Did he have some rough patches during the season? Yes. Were there stretches where things were blown out of proportion? Yes. Honestly, I feel like a lot of that was blown up in the media. Now, of course things will still come down to the money, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Hillis has played four NFL seasons, two in Denver and two in Cleveland. For his career he averages 4.2 yards per carry. Because of injuries has only played in 16 games once.