Second thoughts

— Oh Joe, there will be others

Peyton Hillis has a simple message for Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas.

He’s just not that into you.

A day after Thomas described playing alongside Hillis as “toxic,” the former Browns running back said it’s time for everyone to move on with their careers.

Hillis, a Conway native and former Arkansas Razorback, is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs now, and the teams will meet Sunday in Cleveland.

Judging from Thomas’ comments, Hillis probably shouldn’t expect a warm reception. Thomas said Wednesday that Hillis played more for his contract than for the team last season and that his personal motives hurt the Browns.

Hillis had a breakout 2010 season with the Browns when he rushed for 1,117 yards and 11 touchdowns and was voted to be featured on the cover of the Madden NFL ’12 video game, but Hillis struggled last season while openly campaigning for a long-term contract with the Browns.

Hillis sat out a game with strep throat on the advice of his agent and missed several others with a hamstring injury. He also left the team one week while he was rehabbing and missed a treatment to get married in Arkansas.

“The situation with him here was toxic,” Thomas told the Plain Dealer in Cleveland. “It was just the fact, he decided his contract was more important than coming out and playing and helping his team win. ... He went about trying to get a contract a certain way, and it ended up hurting the other 52 guys in the locker room.”

Not surprisingly, Hillis didn’t care for Thomas’ comments.

“He can have his opinions all he wants,” Hillis said Thursday. “It’s kind of like a crazy ex-girlfriend, you know? It’s been over a year. Get over it.

“But I don’t know. I guess when you get paid over $100 million by one team, it’s kind of easy to point the finger at another guy and hate on him for trying to get another contract.” Viking behavior

Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway has a special request for Vikings fans who attend Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Greenway told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the Vikings need to play one of their best games, but the fans do, too.

“We have to play accordingly and our fans have to show up accordingly, which we know theywill,” Greenway said. “Hopefully, they’re super-duper drunk. ... So drink liquor, not beer.”

It’s a noon kickoff in Minneapolis, so Greenway knows fans need to get an early start.

“Yeah, I would say morning drinking,” he said. “Why not? You could pull an all-nighter. Then you’d have the drunk, tired guys who will really be obnoxious.” Oops

NCAA sanctions have prevented Southern Cal from going to a bowl game the past two seasons, but safety Tony Burnett wasn’t exactly thrilled when it was announced the Trojans would play Georgia Tech in the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Along with one message that included expletives, Burnett posted on his Twitter page that “if you never seen a real life giant tumbleweed get ready.”

USC wasn’t too pleased with the comments, and Burnett issued a statement apologizing to El Paso.

“To the city of El Paso and representatives of the Hyundai Sun Bowl, I apologize for my remarks,” he said. “My team and I are grateful for the opportunity to play in our first bowl game in three years.”

A remorseful USC? That’s a new side of the Trojans.

Quote of the day

“You know, I don’t think we get anywhere in life by playing in the little league. Everybody

wants to go to the big league, and obviously we’re right here in the middle of it.” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema

Sports, Pages 20 on 12/07/2012

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