Peyton Hillis an old school player, much like an old school great

Source NFL.COM

Peyton Hillis is the new "Madden NFL 12" cover boy, but he's not letting that notoriety affect his work ethic.

The Cleveland Browns' rugged running back has been busy enhancing his skill set during the NFL lockout, training in his own distinct way in his hometown of Conway, Ark. Hillis has been seen around the neighborhood powering down the street with a half-ton truck harnessed to his chest. On lighter days, he drags a small car or all-terrain vehicle.

"I know it's weird, but if you saw it, you can see it works," Hillis told The Plain Dealer in Saturday's edition. "It's just something a buddy of mine came up with, and I've been doing it since my junior year in high school."

Hillis went from being a relative unknown to one of the most talked-about players in the NFL during a 2010 season in which he totaled 1,177 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, despite playing the last three weeks with a painful cracked rib that made breathing a chore.

Hillis, like every other NFL player this offseason, is in the unique position of preparing for a new season without the structure that the league provides. Hillis is doing his best to create a positive support system.

"I have coaches from Conway High working me out and all kinds of local fitness experts," he said. "I'm doing yoga, MMA and things like that. I'm an unorthodox player, so I have to do things that fit my kind of game."

The biggest flaw in Hillis' game last season was ball security, and like other aspects of his training this offseason, the 25-year-old has taken a straightforward approach.

"I'll carry a ball around with me all day and ask people to try to knock it out of my hand when I least expect it," he said. "I'll give them some money and stuff, so people get pretty geeked up about that. It just helps me to take care of the ball without even thinking about it."

Looking ahead to the 2011 season, Hillis is excited to be part of a West Coast offense under new coach Pat Shurmur and welcomes a potential challenge for the starting job in the form of Montario Hardesty, who's set to return to action after reconstructive knee surgery.

"I always find competition in each and every thing I do, and it will bring competition -- no doubt about it," Hillis said. "But being professional and being who I am, I like competition. I like a good challenge, and I'm always up for anything."

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He has been compared by some to Mike Alstott and I myself like the comparison.  So I find it at least minimally interesting that they both did similar workouts.  When Alstott was coming out of Purdue back in the 90's he would train by pulling his Jeep in empty parking lots.  No surprise that either of those guys have no problem carrying defenders.

NFL Negotiations to resume in Minnesota

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 28, 2011, 7:09 AM EDT

AP

We noted on Monday that with players meeting with their lawyers in Minnesota, it would make sense for the next round of meetings between the league and the players to occur there as well.

And now we know that is, in fact, what’s happening.

Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports thatboth sides are meeting in Minnesota, home to Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who is overseeing the talks. Those involved include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA* Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, Giants owner John Mara, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Jets fullback Tony Richardson, Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth and Colts center Jeff Saturday.

This is the fifth round of negotiations, which have previously taken place in Illinois, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts. La Canfora writes that talks are expected to continue into next month. We’d be happy to hear Boylan tell both sides to stay in Minnesota until they’ve reached a deal.

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My two pennies on the issue are with the last sentence that Smith wrote.  If these knuckleheads would stay in one stinkin' place and just work through the darn issue, it would be done already.  Heck, with the amount of money that has been dumped into hotels and airlines, they could have put onto the negotiation table and gotten a deal already.  

Obviously the money is not comparable, but you get the drift.  They are arguing over money, yet they are throwing it away left and right.  No wonder so many fans are disenchanted with this whole process and those involved in it.

Brandon Marshall getting his speed back

Not only has Brandon Marshall been dealing with the off field issue that put him in the hospital, but there were already concerns from last season that he wasn't as fast on the field.  He is looking to put both last season and this offseason behind him quickly.

Here is what Florio at PFT wrote today:
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Posted by Mike Florio on June 27, 2011, 9:23 PM EDT

Getty Images

Though Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall has been out of sight for most of an eventual offseason, which included being stabbed by his wife, Marshall has laid the foundation for a successful season season in Miami.

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinelreports that Marshall has gotten his 40-yard dash time consistently under 4.5 seconds, and that he has reached a maximum speed of 22.5 miles per hour.

Kelly’s information comes from trainer Matt Gates.  Marshall’s camp otherwise has been silent since the 2010 season ended.

It won’t be silent once the games start in 2011, if Marshall can run 22.5 miles per hour.