NFL Trade Rumors: Browns Shouldn't Be Stubborn with Peyton Hillis Offers

At the start of the season, none of us could have predicted that Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis would be involved in trade discussions at the deadline.

Yet here we are. It's deadline day, and Hillis' name is all over the place. It's virtually impossible to take a stroll around the Internet without bumping into a Hillis trade rumor.

The hard part is determining which one to believe.

For example, you could believe NFL Network's Jason La Canfora:

Or, you could believe FOX Sports' Jay Glazer:

If these two tweets are any indication, the door to acquiring Hillis via trade is either open a crack, or shut completely.

However, even Glazer is willing to believe that the Browns can be talked into trading Hillis:

Personally, I think it's possible that the Browns are playing hard to get just so they can attract better offers. No doubt they would prefer to hold on to Hillis, but you do indeed have to think that they can be swayed.

Moreover, Hillis is a guy that the Browns should be open to trading at this point. He had a great season in 2010, but 2011 has been a struggle for the Madden 12 cover boy. Hillis has been just okay when he's been able to play, and his contract negotiations with the Browns have only exacerbated things.

Essentially, the trade deadline is a crossroads. The Browns can hold on to Hillis, hope for the best on the field and hope that they can agree to a reasonable extension, or they could wash their hands of Hillis entirely. In return, they would likely get a nice draft pick, maybe even a couple.

The common argument at this point is that dealing Hillis would cripple the Browns offense. To make this argument, you first have to believe that the Browns offense is any good with Hillis in it. Judging from what we've seen, it's not.

This is not necessarily Hillis' fault, of course. It's not like he's hurting the team.

But he's not helping it either. Losing him won't necessarily be a big blow, especially if the Browns get something good in return.

We have an hour to go. Stay tuned.