Hillis going to get cut?

[Kaylore]

I was looking at our rookie contracts and they've signed the bottom four - except for Hillis. They signed Barrett right away (a good sign) and then some time later moved to the more expensive rookies in Powell, Larsen and Torain. Why would they skip Hillis? He's only a seventh rounder.

My suspicion was piqued and then further substantiated when after watching a recent online interview of him he said "whether I play here or somewhere else" and seemed to be suggesting he wouldn't make the team.

I know a lot of people are high on him (and the way things work he'll get signed this Wednesday ) but I wondered if this doesn't suggest something...

[Northman]

I thought i had read somewhere he was doing well in camp. I would be shocked if he got cut.

[Man-Goblin]

He wants Matt Ryan money.

[socalorado]

Meanwhile, the team is also happy with the progress of fullback Peyton Hillis, a seventh-round pick. Former San Diego fullback Lorenzo Neal's name has been connected to the Broncos some this offseason but if Hillis proves he can compete with Cecil Sapp, the team may not have a need at the position.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks...in-Denver.html

Hillis sounds like hes just fine last i heard.
Have not heard anything different since this post.

[bronco militia]

doesn't he have to sign before he can be cut?

[Kaylore]

That link is messed up. If they're so happy with him, then why isn't he signed? how hard can signing a seventh round fullback be?

Originally Posted by bronco militia

doesn't he have to sign before he can be cut?

No he can be waived without a contract. That punter everyone wanted was cut by the Patriots without a contract (Dragosovich?)

[2KBack]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

That link is messed up. If they're so happy with him, then why isn't he signed? how hard can signing a seventh round fullback be?



No he can be waived without a contract. That punter everyone wanted was cut by the Patriots without a contract (Dragosovich?)

maybe he feels he is more valuable than his 7th round status

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

That link is messed up. If they're so happy with him, then why isn't he signed? how hard can signing a seventh round fullback be?

I wouldnt take this as a sign (perhaps he wont make the team) but he would have to look pretty awful in minicamp for them not to even offer a contract and all other reports have suggested otherwise. There could be hundreds of reasons why he hasn't been signed, but I'd assume his play on the field has little to do with it. Can we get any other example of them not signing a draftee?

[socalorado]

Fixed the link.

Heres the article it came from

Tackle battle to come in Denver June 9, 2008 1:05 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson The word in Denver is that there will be a spirited battle at right offensive tackle between Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris. Kuper has been getting all the right tackle reps in the OTAs. Still, the word is Harris has looked good and will be ready to compete with Kuper during training camp. Harris was a third-round draft pick last season and was expected to be a left tackle. Yet, Denver drafted Ryan Clady with the No. 12 pick this year and he is now the starting left tackle. The early talk is that the team is very excited about Clady's play thus far and the Broncos believe he'll be productive as a rookie. Kuper, a third-year player, is a tough, experienced lineman. Harris is very athletic and bright, so this will be a fun battle. Meanwhile, the team is also happy with the progress of fullback Peyton Hillis, a seventh-round pick. Former San Diego fullback Lorenzo Neal's name has been connected to the Broncos some this offseason but if Hillis proves he can compete with Cecil Sapp, the team may not have a need at the position. Broncos, Ryan Clady, Chris Kuper, Ryan Harris, Peyton Hillis

[Smiling Assassin27]

Originally Posted by socalorado

Meanwhile, the team is also happy with the progress of fullback Peyton Hillis, a seventh-round pick. Former San Diego fullback Lorenzo Neal's name has been connected to the Broncos some this offseason but if Hillis proves he can compete with Cecil Sapp, the team may not have a need at the position.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks...in-Denver.html

Hillis sounds like hes just fine last i heard.
Have not heard anything differant since this post.

cecil sapp at FB tells me we're not serious about filling the position.

[bowtown]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

That link is messed up. If they're so happy with him, then why isn't he signed? how hard can signing a seventh round fullback be?

There's a million reasons. Maybe his agent is tied up doing bigger deals right now. Maybe they are having more back and forth about language or terms. Denver is early on most of these other signings this year. I don't think it's an indicator of anything.

[Boss Man]

I highly doubt he would be cut before training camp, that just makes no sense.

I dont know when the last time i heard of that happening.

[TheReverend]

I can pretty much guarantee you the hold-up is in his versatility.

He's a 7th rounder but any incentives on the contract based off performance probably need to take into account whether he's an H-back, Fullback, runningback, to give realistic shots at achieving them.

[BroncoBuff]

I thought the optimistic people here had Hillis pegged as a starter?

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

I thought the optimistic people here had Hillis pegged as a starter?

It's his position. FB is probably the only position, other than QB and kicker/punter, where teams would even consider only keeping 2. Not that I'm saying it's happening here, but it's pretty easy to be etched in as a starting FB one day, to not even making the cut the next IMO.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I can pretty much guarantee you the hold-up is in his versatility.

He's a 7th rounder but any incentives on the contract based off performance probably need to take into account whether he's an H-back, Fullback, runningback, to give realistic shots at achieving them.

That makes some sense except that Larsen was also a versatile player of sorts lining up on offense and defense. I guess they put his fullback experiment to bed, because if they can put together a deal for him, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to do so for Hillis.

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by Smiling Assassin27

cecil sapp at FB tells me we're not serious about filling the position.

How very, very true!

[PRBronco]

Originally Posted by Boss Man

I highly doubt he would be cut before training camp, that just makes no sense.

I dont know when the last time i heard of that happening.

What about that epic draft class where the D line was shored up for the future with Aaron Hunt, Bryant McNeil, Nick Eason and Clint Mitchell? Did they offer anyone other than Eason a contract?

[no-pseudo-fan]

New guy doing the contracts, might cause the irregularities.

I have given up on trying to figure out the Broncos F/O.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by PRBronco

What about that epic draft class where the D line was shored up for the future with Aaron Hunt, Bryant McNeil, Nick Eason and Clint Mitchell? Did they offer anyone other than Eason a contract?

Oh man...I had selectively removed that even from my memory.

[montrose]

I wouldn't be surprised in the least, although I still think Hillis is our best, natural FB - nothing surprises me with the Broncos at the RB position. It could be, however, that his agent is positioning for a bit more dough than a 7th rounder would get seeing Hillis seems to have a legitimate chance to step right in and start.

I was listening to Alfred Williams the other day and he said Hillis was the Broncos best pick and he'd make the biggest impact of any rookie this year - including Clady and Royal.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

That makes some sense except that Larsen was also a versatile player of sorts lining up on offense and defense. I guess they put his fullback experiment to bed, because if they can put together a deal for him, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to do so for Hillis.

Because of the range of the two different spots both would find themselves in.

If Larsen ends up playing FB instead of LB, it won't make any impact on incentives which would probably be based off of playing time instead of gaudy stat numbers based on the nature of both thumping positions. I'm also certain his agent knows Larsen isn't going to be a threat receiver out of the backfield.

Hillis, on the other hand, being a back in Denver could end up being the starting fullback, or even the starting running back. If that's the case, they need to be prepared to grab fistfuls of incentive money if he throws a Rueben Droughns-esque 1200 part time season into the mix.

[Bladerunner]

Nice catch Kaylore...I'm not reading too much into it though...Josh Barrett specifically told his agent that he wanted a contract done immediately (i guess he wanted to keep Erickson at bay ASAP..lol)...so they did...the rest of them are probably getting done at the Broncos discretion (with respect to timing), since the player generally gains leverage as time goes on...

I do agree though that a 7th rounder shouldn't be much of a problem under any circumstances...but maybe Rev is right and he's looking to get some escalators in there for performance other than blocking.

[Bravo]

I wouldn't worry about Hillis, he will be signed. IMHO, when it all boils down Sapp will be the one man out. I feal they will work Pittman in as a FB also and keep Aldridge as a RB and special team player.

[ludo21]

He is surely going to be let go, this is a bad sign.