Former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis returns to Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs as the two teams face each other December 9th.  Hillis’ former teammate on the Browns, five time pro bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas, let everyone know this week that Hillis was not on the best of terms with the Browns’ players when he departed after the 2011 season.

Thomas told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that after his stellar 2010 season (1177 yards rushing, 477 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns scored), “He decided that his contract was more important than coming out and playing and helping his team win, and it left us without a running back,” Thomas said. “To have Peyton going through a contract dispute and basically refusing to play, it was a big distraction.”  Thomas also chided Hillis for sitting out games with injuries and not following through on treatment.  He also claimed Hillis had formerly been a hard working player and good teammate until his big year went to his head.  Hillis appeared in only 10 games in 2011, and rushed for 587 yards.

Hillis, who signed a one year contract with Kansas City for $2.8 million in 2012, fired back, saying Thomas was like “a crazy ex-girlfriend” and he should “get over it”.   So how’s Hillis doing this year?  He’s rushed for 193 yards and one touchdown in nine games, not exactly the production the Chiefs were looking for, and does nothing to disprove the theory that Hillis is a one hit wonder.

The sniping back and forth has done one thing.  It’s generated a little more interest than usual in a matchup between two teams who are out of playoff contention.