Cleveland Browns OT Joe Thomas criticises RB Peyton Hillis joining Kansas City Chiefs – NFL News
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas has questioned choice of former teammate running back Peyton Hillis to join the Kansas City Chiefs saying he has given preference to money over the former team where he had performed wondrously well in 2011.
Hillis while playing for the Browns a year earlier rushed for record 1,177 yards. He also had 11 touchdowns and was the most popular team figure among their fans. He then deserted the Browns in favour Kansas City Chiefs to explore greener pastures.
Thomas thinks Hillis should not have given preference to the contract situation and instead he could have kept playing for the Browns.
Thomas said:
"It was a terrible distraction. He crippled our offense. We were struggling to find anybody who could carry the ball after all the injuries we had. To have Peyton going through a contract dispute and basically refusing to play, it was a big distraction.
But more than anything, he was our starting running back that was a good player who was going to help us be a successful offence.”
He added:
"When he's not there and you don't have anybody to turn to, it makes it hard to win. And that's the distraction, it's not being successful."
It is pertinent to mention that the occasion of Thomas’ outburst is next Sunday when the Chiefs are visiting the Browns for a road game. The Browns are struggling in the season with only four wins out of 12 games so far, and it appears a couple of more victories
will end the seasons for them. A similar performance had come from them last season.
Thomas thinks that Hillis should have stayed with the Browns, and could have been in a better position if he had stayed. It is nevertheless an unusual of Thomas to ask from Hillis to do against what he had decided was the best for him.
Irrespective of the fact they are colleagues, such a question is not justified from the OT. He might have done the same if a better opportunity had come to his way.
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