HEADLINES

Peyton Hillis

Extra Points: Suh, Flowers, Titans, NFLPA

March 5th, 2015 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

The money could get silly for guys like Ndamukong Suh and Darrelle Revis since some teams will need to spend to reach the cap minimum and a lack of in-house guys to reward could push free agent prices through the roof, says Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter links). Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • The Dolphins and Colts are expected to make the strongest pushes for Suh, multiple league sources told Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Both teams have been heavily linked to the impending free agent defensive tackle in recent days.
  • Appearing today on the NFL Network, cornerback Brandon Flowers said he’d like to remain with the Chargers, and is in discussions with the club about a new deal, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Flowers described his situation as win-win: “If I stay in San Diego, it’s a place I loved stepping in from Day 1. It’s a nice place to live, and with a quarterback like Philip Rivers, you always have a chance. And if I’m not able to go back, I’m going to the free agency market.”
  • Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean looked at the Titans‘ free agents and ran down which ones the team should look to re-sign. The top priorities, he says, should be linebacker Derrick Morgan, punter Brett Kern, and defensive lineman Karl Klug.
  • Former NFLPA staff counsel Arthur McAfee is officially on the ballot for the upcoming executive director election, tweets Getlin. Jim Acho, a Michigan attorney running for the job, has also been told he has the three nominations needed to get on the final ballot, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Additionally, sports advisor Rob London tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link) that he also received the necessary recommendations from player reps to qualify as a candidate. There are now eight candidates in the mix for the position.
  • In this week’s mailbag, a reader asked Mike Klis of the Denver Post if the Broncos would consider former fan favorite Peyton Hillis at fullback. If he were a bit more spry, Hillis would be close to an ideal fullback in Gary Kubiak‘s system, but even then he’s still too small for the position.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Giants Release Peyton Hillis

February 25th, 2015 at 9:12am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants have parted ways with a backup running back, announcing today that they’ve released Peyton Hillis. Hillis had one year remaining on his deal, but will hit free agency a year early, and with a head start on the players eligible for free agency next month.

After averaging about 118 carries per year in his previous four seasons, Hillis carried the ball just 26 times in 2014, for 115 yards. While the former Browns running back had been the Giants’ primary backup – and occasional lead rusher – for part of the 2013 season, he was pushed down on the depth chart last season after the arrivals of Rashad Jennings (via free agency) and Andre Williams (via the draft). Hillis’ season officially ended in November when he was placed on the IR after suffering a concussion.

Hillis had been set to earn a base salary of $870K, along with a $25K workout bonus and a $50K roster bonus that was due in a couple weeks. While the Giants’ will clear his $945K cap number from their books, they won’t clear quite that much cap space, since Hillis will be replaced in the team’s top 51 by a minimum-salary player.

As a vested veteran, Hillis will be immediately eligible to sign with a new club.

Giants Place Peyton Hillis On IR

November 15th, 2014 at 11:16am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants will receive an offensive boost on Sunday when running back Rashad Jennings returns from an knee injury that forced him to miss four games. However, they’ll be without another veteran ball-carrier, as the club has placed Peyton Hillis on injured reserve (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports). Hillis suffered a concussion during last Sunday’s game against the Seahawks and hasn’t practiced since, and New York evidently felt his symptoms were severe enough to end his season. To replace Hillis on the 53-man roster, the Giants have promoted linebacker Justin Anderson from the practice squad, according to Jordan Raanan of the NJ.com (via Twitter).

Hillis, 29 in January, signed with the Giants in October 2013. Prior to his arrival in New York, the 2008 seventh-round pick had spent time with the Broncos, Browns, Chiefs, and Buccaneers. His most notable season was 2010, when he rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 61 receptions for another 477 yards. This season, Hillis had seen 115 offensive snaps as he teamed with Andre Williams to fill in for Jennings. He’s due $870K in base salary in 2015, and with bonuses pushing his cap figure to $945K, it’s no guarantee he’ll return to the Giants next season.

Meanwhile, Anderson will add depth to a linebacking unit that will be without injured weak-side starter Jacquian Williams on Sunday. Even after adding Anderson, the Giants will field only five healthy LBs for tomorrow’s game, so presuming he’s active, there’s a chance Anderson sees a handful of snaps, at least on special teams. The rookie out of Louisiana-Lafayette has been on New York’s practice squad since late October.

Giants Notes: Wilson, Cunningham, Hillis

August 5th, 2014 at 9:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Giants linebacker Jameel McClain, signed as a free agent from Baltimore in the offseason, suffered a similar injury to the one that ended David Wilson‘s career when McClain was with the Ravens in 2012, writes Jim Hague of The Associated Press. McClain suffered a bruised spinal cord and aggravated a long-standing case of spinal stenosis and was told he’d never play football again before hooking on with Big Blue. “I can understand to a certain extent,” McClain said. “I can relate because of the circumstances and having the same options. I really didn’t know much about my injury. The situation is a little different, but I had the same numbness and tingling my neck, hands and feet. After I first came here and we met each other, I talked to David and told him about my situation.” More out of East Rutherford, New Jersey..

  • Tight end Jerome Cunningham‘s deal with the Giants is a three-year pact, agent Howard Shatsky tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Cunningham was picked up today along with veteran defensive lineman Israel Idonije. To help make room for the duo, Big Blue waived defensive end Kendrick Adams.
  • The Giants got a bit of a scare today when Peyton Hillis had to exit from today’s practice with an ankle injury. Hopefully, they won’t lose another RB for an extended period as the early prognosis is a sprained ankle, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. There’s no word on the severity of the sprain just yet.
  • The Giants’ new defensive backs, led by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, could be as good as advertised, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. With fellow cornerback Walter Thurmond and Quintin Demps in the fold for depth, coach David Merritt says this is the deepest secondary he’s ever seen in New York.

NFC Notes: Panthers, Sherrod, Cowboys, Vikings

June 18th, 2014 at 9:28pm CST by Zachary Links

After being cut eight times in five years, Rutgers product Tiquan Underwood is fighting to beat the odds, writes Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “I wouldn’t say anything changes because you want to take a serious approach, but I would just say I’m more mindful of the fact that it’s not just me anymore,” Underwood said today at Panthers practice. “I have a fiancée and a daughter that also rely on what I do.” Underwood has an opportunity in Carolina to replace Ted Ginn Jr., the speedy wide receiver who filled the No. 3 role for the team in 2013, but he hasn’t separated himself from the pack yet this offseason. Here’s more from around the NFL…

  • Oft-injured offensive lineman Derek Sherrod wasn’t surprised when the Packers turned down his fifth-year option for the 2015 season, and is hoping to stay healthy and have a productive contract year in 2014, as he tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
  • The Cowboys may be content to let the Kyle Orton situation play out, but Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram thinks it’s just a matter of time until the team has to cut its losses. In Hill’s view, the Cowboys aren’t likely to collect any money for fines from Orton, let alone bonus money.
  • The Cowboys would like to sign Dez Bryant to an extension, but the wide receiver isn’t sweating it, writes David Moore of the Dallas News. “That’s going to take care of itself,’’ Bryant said. “I’m very confident in the work I put in. Whatever happens, happens,” Bryant said. “All I know is I’m going to continue to keep doing my job. That alone shows my dedication and love I have for the game. I’m going to let it work out.’’
  • Former guard Steve Hutchinson, who made four straight Pro Bowls as a member of the Vikings, hopes to return to the organization in a scouting role, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I got to get settled in down there first and see what the lay of the land is,” Hutchinson said. “If they need a presence down South or something, depending on what they might need my skill set for. But it’s nothing that’s set in stone right now. It’s kind of just talk right now.”
  • Giants running back Peyton Hillis has signed with Drew Rosenhaus’ agency, tweets Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal. Rosenhaus is the fifth agency to represent the former Madden cover athlete. Hillis will be repped by Jason Katz and Michael Katz (link).
  • Bears offensive lineman Michael Ola has spent the last two days working with the first team at right tackle and left guard, tweets the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. As a result, the writer believes Ola will be among the players competing for a roster spot come training camp (via Twitter). The 26-year-old spent the last two seasons playing in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes. 

Ben Levine and Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Giants To Re-Sign Peyton Hillis

March 11th, 2014 at 9:35am CST by Luke Adams

9:35am: Hillis’ deal is worth $1.8MM over two years, a source tells Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger (Twitter link).

8:28am: After filling in as the team’s feature back at times last season, Peyton Hillis will return to the Giants for the 2014 season, reports Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Hillis will ink a two-year deal with the team, perhaps as soon as today.

Hillis, 28, recorded 73 carries for 247 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Giants in 2013. His 3.4 yards per carry represented a career-worst average, but he’s likely to be no more than second or third on the club’s depth chart heading into next season. Andre Brown, who finished the 2013 season as New York’s feature back, is also eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, so the club will likely add at least one more player to the mix, whether it’s Brown or someone else.

The Giants are also reportedly close to re-signing cornerback Trumaine McBride and kicker Josh Brown, meaning the team could have a handful of new deals to announce very soon.