BEREA, Ohio — Browns running back Peyton Hillis apologized Wednesday for missing a Halloween party for kids that he was supposed to attend, blaming his unexcused absence on a miscommunication.
Mired in a season entangled with controversy, Hillis failed to show up at the Boys & Girls Club on Monday to hand out candy to 50 children at the event, which was hosted by former Browns offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, a club board member.
“I just want to say I’m sorry about the charity event with the Boys & Girls Club,” said Hillis, who has missed Cleveland’s past two games with a hamstring injury. “There was a lot of miscommunication between me and the management that I had and if I knew the full depths of it, I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Bentley was furious with the former Bronco after Monday’s event and vented on his Twitter page, posting: “Peyton Hillis looking for 10mil guaranteed from Browns and can’t show up to kids charity event? #ManPlease.”
Hillis, sidelined the past two weeks after injuring his hamstring Oct. 16 against Oakland, was listed as “did not participate” on the Browns’ first injury report of the week and his status for Sunday’s game against the Texans is uncertain.
Jackson gaining ground on deal
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Running back Fred Jackson, fourth in the league with 721 yards rushing and second with 1,074 yards from scrimmage, revealed that three weeks ago he received “some assurance” from general manager Buddy Nix the Bills are open to restructuring his contract. Jackson wasn’t provided a timetable, but said he has “faith” something will be done.
Also, starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams said doctors intend to run tests on his injured left foot Monday, when the protective boot he’s been wearing for the past two weeks will be removed. Williams added he’ll also attempt to run on the foot to see if it’s feeling better.
Footnotes.
Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle) was on the field for practice and is hopeful of playing at Arizona on Sunday.
• Jets defensive linemen Mike DeVito (knee) and Kenrick Ellis (ankle) did not practice, and their availability for Sunday’s game at Buffalo is uncertain.
• Falcons left tackle Sam Baker will miss three to four weeks with a back injury.
• Bengals running back Cedric Benson returned to the team after serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s conduct policy.
• Ten days after Chargers guard Kris Dielman suffered a head injury against the Jets and later had a seizure on the team’s flight home from New York, the NFL told its game officials to watch closely for concussion symptoms in players.
• Tommy Watkins, a running back for the Lions in the 1960s who also excelled at returning kicks, died Saturday after an extended illness. He was 74.
