Peyton Hillis is productive, but relying on him counterproductive to Cleveland Browns: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

As much fun as Peyton Hillis is to watch, the Browns are knuckle draggers in the evolution of the modern NFL offense, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

For lack of a better term, the Browns' aerial attack is a passing fancy . . .

Peyton Hillis is fun to watch.

But think of offense in the NFL as an evolutionary chart.

The modern form is Peyton Manning -- yes, the other Peyton -- standing erect in the pocket looking downfield to launch a surgical strike.

Hillis? He's a knuckle dragger from the left side of the chart.

Don't believe in evolution?

OK, in medical terms, Hillis is a home remedy for what ails the Browns on that side of the ball. What they need to finally join the league's hale and hearty is a cure.

Look at the names introduced into the conversation after his 144 yards rushing against Baltimore. Mike Alstott. Larry Csonka. John Riggins.

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan even mentioned Earl Campbell "when he was running with those tear-away jerseys."

(Earl Campbell? Bartender, since I'm not driving, I'll have whatever Mr. Ryan is drinking.)

That's high praise. Those were punishing backs, feared by opponents for good reason.

They also share something else that's hard to ignore: Yesteryear.

So much of the NFL in 2010 is about air force. Hillis has good hands, just not the speed and moves to make people miss.

Browns All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas said this week he can't believe a team let Hillis go. I can. In this era, everybody is looking to stretch the field. They want playmakers, home run hitters.

I can see why the Broncos would want to go in a different direction. (The Browns drafted Montario Hardesty for a similar reason.) I just can't believe the Broncos let Hillis go for Brady Quinn and then drafted Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said he'll keep running Hillis as long as he's effective.

We'll see. That's what the Browns did with Jerome Harrison in the final month of last season. Harrison has since been downgraded to "meh."

Eric Mangini and Daboll eventually will get judged on how the offense evolves. A big part of that is the grooming of Mangini's hand-picked wide receiver tandem, Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie.

It's not a good sign for Mangini in his second season that the Browns look respectable only when handing the ball off, no matter how much fun it is to watch Hillis steamrollering tacklers.

Don't get me wrong. There's a lot to like about Hillis. He's been the Browns' most productive option.

They just won't be a serious player in the NFL until he's not.

Deciding on questions

Did race play a factor in Soledad O'Brien asking LeBron James and Maverick Carter if race played a factor?

We may never know what CNN's O'Brien would ask Brett Favre about the possible motivation for the nationwide ridicule of his career waffling.

We just know she asked James and his pal Carter if race played a factor in the hammering he took after "The Decision."

We know of O'Brien's "Black in America" documentary for CNN, and we could conclude that might have altered her frame of reference for the James interview.

If we had a shred of evidence, that is.

We don't.

Just like she didn't in asking James a racially charged question without explanation or follow-up.

James' answer -- that race played a factor "at times" -- was the equivalent of rolling a hand grenade into a crowded room and walking away.

How? When? Was it the media? The public?

A day later, James acted the Innocent when asked what he meant by that.

"I think people are looking too far into it," he said.

You mean like you and Soledad O'Brien?

He said it

"It's like watching a movie. Just when you think it couldn't get any more stupider, it gets more stupid." -- Charles Barkley, on LeBron James saying race played a factor in the criticism he took after "The Decision."

If you're looking to rank the wackiest, most ridiculous turn of events in the LeBron James saga, tops on my list is that Charles Barkley has become the Voice of Cleveland.

Check this out

He must've been really tired after carrying that oversized check to the bank . . .

Apparently to prove he's a man of conscience, Washington defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth said he let his $21 million bonus check from the team sit in his house for 10 days while he decided whether to accept the change from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3 defense preferred by new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

Wow. Now that's some serious introspection.

How serious?

After Haynesworth cashed the check, he skipped the team's off-season conditioning program and mandatory minicamp in protest.

I mean, what more could he have done other than, you know, shown up?

You said it

The Expanded Sunday Edition

Bud: It was mentioned that Eric Wright was not himself [in Baltimore] Sunday, which begs the question, 'Who was he?' Could he be perhaps the ghost of LeBron in Game 5? -- Jim D.

Anquan Boldin only made Wright look passive and uninvolved. James actually was seen filing his nails during one inbounds play.

Voice of Reason: I was just reading the article about the start of Cavs training camp, and it mentioned about the team moving on 'without LeBron James.' Did I miss something? Where is he? -- Dan Okress

Off fighting injustice wherever he imagines it.

Bud: Since the Indians are doing a winter theme. Do you think they will do a Halloween theme, like putting signs outside the park that read, "Progressive Field, where the batting averages of scary prospects come to die!"? -- Eric Price, North Ridgeville

I thought you were going to say "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."

Bud: Now that the Indians' biggest rival is doormat Kansas City, and the Browns can't win a regular-season game, and Z, West, Shaq and the Choosing One have all left the Cavs, will The PD's Sports Section be subsumed by the Diversions Section or just be abandoned altogether? -- Chas Kikel

Since fans around here laugh to keep from crying, the logical move for the sports section is to settle in between the comics and the obits.

Bud: When John Hart left the Indians, it was just a matter of time until the Texas Rangers were a contender. Even though he personally can't win any games, losing John Hart was a bigger loss than any of the Cy Young winners. -- Patrick McGinty

An alias, John? Really?

Bud: Four good seats at a Cavs game: $300; parking: $25; food and drinks: $80; LeBron James NBA Licensed Jersey: $125; Being called a racist for criticizing a player's loyalty: CLUELESS. -- Scott Wise

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

Bud: LeBron James said race played a role in the negative reaction he received after The Decision. Well, when I look at James, the only color I see is yellow. -- Angelo, Cleveland

Repeat winners receive rose-colored glasses.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639