Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis has shrugged off accusations by former teammate, Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas, that he was not injured and simply angling for a new contract last season.

"It's kind of like a crazy ex-girlfriend," Hillis said of Thomas. "It's been over a year. Get over it. I guess when you get paid over $100 million dollars by one team, it's kind of easy to point the finger at other guys and try to hate on them for trying to get another contract."

The word war between former teammates is expected to provide some spice when the two out-of-it-all teams collide Sunday in Cleveland.

After a breakthrough season in 2010, Hillis gained just 587 yards last year and missed six games with injuries.

This led Thomas to hit Hillis, saying he wasn't really injured but just angling for a new contract.

"You think strep throat and I don't know whatever else injuries he had should keep you out of an NFL game? Or several?" Thomas said. "All I know is (center) Alex Mack had appendicitis. His appendix blew up and he played."

"Hillis decided that his contract was more important than coming out and playing and helping his team win, and it left us without a running back," he added.

The Chiefs signed Hillis to a one-year contract in March reportedly worth $3 million while the Browns recently inked Thomas to an eight-year, $92 million contract last year.

"I think it was better for both sides," Thomas said. "At that point, the situation with him here was toxic. He didn't want to be here, and players didn't want him here, and it's better just for a fresh start at that point."

This season, Hillis missed three games because of a high ankle sprain and is just third on the team with 193 rushing yards.

Despite his struggles, Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel said he has no problem with his running back.

"He's been good ever since he's been here," Crennel said. "I have no problems with him. He does everything I ask him to do. He's been productive on the field other than the times he's been injured, when we didn't have him on the field."

 

 

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