AP: a3bf13cd-5109-46bc-82c4-c4b1f07c9029
Agent Kennard McGuire said running back Peyton Hillis was too sick to play in a Sept. 25 game. McGuire was concerned that because Hillis had been weakened he "could have hurt himself and the team." McGuire disputes reports that Hillis' absence was connected to him seeking a contract extension from the Browns. (AP)
I know that I can come off as the grumpy old man that says things like "They don't make 'em like they used to", but maybe this story will turn you into a grumpy old man too.

It was revealed this week that Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis, on the advice of his agent, decided to take himself out of the Browns' Week 3 match-up against the Miami Dolphins because of the lingering effects of strep throat. The Browns did end up beating the Dolphins by a slim margin (17-16) without Hillis thanks to Montario Hardesty's 67 yards rushing and three catches for 19 yards. I understand that Hardesty had a bad case of the "sniffles" but was able to forge on through the adversity.

Agent Kennard McGuire's reasoning was that he could jeopardize his career by not playing at 100 percent. Really?! That might jeopardize his career more than backing out of an important game because of a sore throat?!

Makes you wonder two things:

• What do you think Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren thinks of Hillis now? He might want to consider Hillis' toughness and commitment to the team before he renegotiates Hillis' contract for the long term.

• How far down the "slippery slope" have we slid when a 6-foot-2, 250-pound, bruising running back voluntarily takes himself out of a game because of a "scratchy throat."

It seems to me that part of the appeal of professional football is the "toughness" aspect of the game. It's a game that is played rain or shine, in extreme heat and cold, by tough guys who will make sacrifices in order to play. As for the "slippery slope", it started with the term "player safety."

Then there were all sorts of penalties and fines for who you hit and how you hit them. Then the rigors of "double-day" practices and offseason workouts were taken away. Now, we've landed on players taking themselves out of games for reasons that most of us wouldn't have missed a day of Kindergarten over.

Before a Sunday night game against the Oakland Raiders back in 1989, I raced between my bed and the toilet with a 102-degree temperature and the chills from the flu. My only concern was how I was going to avoid soiling myself on the field in front of millions of people in "super-slow motion" instant replay. I played the game, of course, and never considered not playing.

In the 100 or so games that I played in throughout my career, that incident ranks near the bottom on the "adversity scale." I've played games with digits hanging on by the skin, broken toes, cracked ribs and knees that were in need of surgical repair.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Paul Moyer, my former teammate and current colleague on the Seahawks pre- and post-game show. If you are squeamish, please stop reading now! I guarantee you that any man will instinctively cross his legs upon reading this.

Paul suffered a ruptured testicle (squished) during a game and did not tell the trainers about it until the end of the game. Why? Because he wanted to play and knew that they would take him out of the game. He wanted to play.

Now I should mention that since then, Paul played in many more games, married a beautiful Sea Gal and popped out two of the most beautiful kids you've ever seen. But can you imagine a conversation between Moyer and Hillis?

Hillis: "Yeah, football is a tough game. I almost played in a game once because I had a sore throat."

Moyer: "I was kneed in the crotch and played an entire game with a testicle that was the size of a grapefruit. Let me buy you a beer, tough guy."

Sheesh!

Follow Dave Wyman, 710Sports.com contributor

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Comments (19)


  • Add A Comment

  • clevesside wrote...
    Real men play with real nuts...
    October 7, 2011 8:00 pm
    ...Moyer, bless his heart, included, and I have to wonder if this is the whole unvarnished story on Hillis. It sound pretty lame, like something an agent would indeed make up. He will have to answer to his teammates and it will not be fun for the rest of the season. Might even be a one-way to Bengalville. PS- why is Monson involved at all, other than to fan flames?? He has his own show to worry about!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Browns vs Dolphins
    October 7, 2011 10:14 pm
    "An important game"? To who exactly?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Great post Dave
    October 8, 2011 5:04 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Scoutem wrote...
    messiah
    October 8, 2011 6:13 am
    why do you always post such dumb comments? Any game is important to what ever team is playing when there are so few. Great article Dave I totally agree Ronnie Lott having his finger removed etc...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • happy happy joy joy wrote...
    .....
    October 8, 2011 7:53 am
    All these rules designed to protect and cause players to be fined for doing what they are trained to do is making the NFL less physical. Lets see...Defensive backs can't even TOUCH a WR! QB's complaining because they do not get as many PENALTIES as other QBs when they get hit! WR looking for FLAGS when they get tackled going across the middle of the field! Defensive players are called upon to make quarter of a second adjustments to hit a spot 1/3 the total size of a player with a 300 plus pound offensive lineman blocking him. If they miss on the hit they basically get fined a game check. It is getting ridiculous, and I love this game the commissioner is destroying.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Scoutem
    October 8, 2011 1:45 pm
    What strikes me funny about your comment is that you actually believe that a game between two lower echelon NFL teams is actually an "important game" just because the writer of the story says it is.Your a great example of how people of low intelligence are easily manipulated.Let me set you straight the Browns-Dolphin game was in NO WAY an important game.Put that thought to bed because you just look stupid saying it was
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Tough boys..
    October 8, 2011 9:38 am
    It's not too much longer before we'll see the ref's toss a flag because one player hurt another players feelings from rude language. However, Wyman and others have to understand as well that, so far, no player has been killed in the NFL during a game. Not yet. It's going to happen one day too. Count on it. Up to this point, players have been maimed, disabled, permanently handicapped and had lifespans not to mention careers incredibly shortened because of the game and its associated activities.. But thats what disability insurance is for I guess..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Schuhman wrote...
    Already happens
    October 8, 2011 5:18 pm
    Refs already toss flags for that. It is called taunting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    CH & Messiah post idiotic comments everywhere on the website - sports, politics, lifestyle, etc...
    October 8, 2011 10:08 am
    There is seemingly no way to avoid them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Lock-out
    October 8, 2011 11:07 am
    Lack of conditioning, and Team sanctioned training camp work-out's did not help the situation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Zagnut
    October 8, 2011 11:57 am
    I was just going to post the same thing about these two.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rastaj wrote...
    Football bores me...
    October 8, 2011 12:30 pm
    Too many rules, starting and stopping, and just...blah. It would be a h311 of a lot more interesting if they took the pads and that stupid helmet off. THEN it would be a real "mans" sport.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    More "tough boys"....
    October 8, 2011 1:35 pm
    ....will indeed get flagged soon for talking naughty no-nos and uttering impolite conversation during play. Goodness Gracious (that's allowable on this blog apparently, but nothing more)! What kind of example is that for those clueless watching?! God forbid they turn the channel! If I was a grumpy conservative politician I'd whine just for the publicity alone. The time will come once there's a complaint....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tree wrote...
    It's the money
    October 8, 2011 2:20 pm
    I'm not sure anymore who plays the game for the game and who plays for the money. If you're listening to an agent, it's the money. I think something is wrong with QB 400 yrd games. Bring back the 'D'
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }






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