Peyton Hillis: Madden Curse Stretching Beyond the Field for Browns' Star

The nightmare season for Madden 12 coverboy and powerful Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis got even worse when he was accused of being a no-show at an event for a Cleveland Boys and Girls Club on Monday night.

This event was not an officially sanctioned Cleveland Browns event, so no disciplinary actions can be taken by the club if this story really is true, but the negative publicity from this event have put the controversial back in an even worse light.

For those who don’t believe in the Madden curse, look at the numbers Hillis had last season compared to the terrible numbers and string of injuries the powerful Browns back has faced this year and tell me the curse isn’t real.

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer is reporting about what allegedly happened with the missed appearance:

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Former Browns lineman LeCharles Bentley, who is on the club's board, secured a commitment from Hillis' brother and business agent to appear at a Halloween party at the club on Broadway, said a source. A press release promoting Hillis' appearance was distributed to media on Friday. More than 40 boys and girls, some of whom were bused in from other clubs, were on hand, another source said.

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Now this could be something as simple as miscommunication between Bentley and Hillis’ people, but the lack of on-field production and obvious resentment with the organization over a lack of an extension helps this story fall under scrutiny.

The bottom line is that Peyton Hillis is trying to get paid and the fact that the Cleveland Browns are dragging their feet has the back angry at his situation.

It’s not that I don’t think Hillis is trying to not play or not play well, but I think he is running tentatively so that he can hit free agency healthy and restart his career elsewhere next season.

I am not willing to say that Hillis is a bad guy just because of one report, but many teams will lose respect for this man if they find out all the accusations of mailing in his effort and skipping team functions are true.

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