Browns running back Peyton Hillis was unable to prove Ray Lewis wrong about shutting him down because he suffered a back injury
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis makes a hit on Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis in the first half of Sunday's game in Cleveland.All of Ray Lewis' trash-talking about shutting down Peyton Hillis, and Lawrence Vickers' pre-game retort to smack the Ravens in the mouth went out the window on the second play of the game when Hillis was drilled in the back by Ed Reed and suffered a back injury.
"I took a shot to the back, in my ribs,'' said Hillis. "It took a toll on me.''
Hillis, who was limited to 12 carries for 35 yards, underwent X-rays after the game, but is expected to be fine. In fact, he said he has every intention of playing next week against the Steelers.
"As long as I can walk, I'll be out there,'' he said.
Did Hillis think Reed's crushing blow was a cheapshot?
"I haven't had time to look at it,'' said Hillis. "I don't want to make any judgment until I see it.''
He did acknowledge that he was a marked man during the game, a 20-10 Browns loss.
"That was a sure thing,'' he said. "I think the media, with what Ray said during the week, set it up and it probably came out to be true. But you still approach the gameplan the same and you still try to run the ball the same. But they did a pretty good job shutting me down, obviously.''
Hillis was replaced by backup running back Mike Bell on that first drive and for other full series in the game. On the drive at the end of the half, Bell rushed for seven yards and caught a 28-yard pass to set up a field goal. All told, he rushed seven times for 27 yards and caught two passes for 48 yards. Heading in, he had a total of 30 yards rushing in nine games.
"Mike did a great job,'' said Hillis. "I was proud of him. He responded well and had a great game.''
Hillis, who gashed the Ravens for 144 yards in the first meeting, admitted that the back injury limited him a lot.
"But I feel like I stuck in there for a good time (after the hit) and played well with it and was out there for my teammates,'' he said.
Might he have been able to gain the 100 yards the Lewis promised he'd prevent if not for the injury?
"I don't know, it's hard to say,'' he said. "But I know I could've done better than I did.''
Hillis allowed that he and his offensive teammates were prepared to prove Lewis wrong.
''He got his team hyped up, but I felt cheated because I couldn't go out there and work to my full potential,'' said Hillis.
Lewis told Hillis on the field how he really feels about him.
"He was like, 'You run the ball good, I'm proud of you'' and stuff like that,'' said Hillis. "Ray's a good guy. I love his passion for football and he did a good job today. He's a true professional.''
Lewis revealed what Vickers said to him during pre-game warmups. The heated exchange was caught on camera and also involved linebacker Terrell Suggs.
"When it gets personal is when somebody says they're going to smack you in the mouth, all this different stuff,'' said Lewis.
Explained Vickers: "I just wanted to let him know we came to play some football. There was really no confrontation or jawing. I'd just say it was some motivational words for him.''
Added Suggs: "We backed up what Ray said he was going to do. Ray had (Hillis) dialed in.''
Both Vickers and left tackle Joe Thomas said Lewis' comments were disrespectful.
"I think anybody who reads it realizes that it's disrespectful,'' said Thomas. "You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out it’s a lack of respect, but we know they’re a great defense and we’re going to have to rise to the challenge everytime no matter if they're talking smack or not.''
Lewis said he knew he had to do something to get his team in the proper mindset.
"Sometimes you've got to let people know you're coming,'' he said. "It was about getting my team ready to play, understanding this is a playoff atmosphere for us. We needed to understand that they'd come out and give us everything they had.
"Even though the Browns lost the first game, everybody was talking about was (Hillis's) rushing yards. So it was like, 'OK, that means it's a little personal.' I'm not here to let somebody run the ball and beat us. That's why I spoke to my men, from my heart. It wasn't about trash-talking, it was about saying what I felt in my heart needed to happen for us to win.''
Plain Dealer Reporter Dennis Manoloff contributed to this report