Peyton Hillis Claims He Was Taunted For Being A White Running Back

When asked about the novelty of being a white running back in the NFL on the Dan Patrick Show, Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis claimed that he was often taunted during games for being white.

"Every team did it," Hillis said. "They'll say, 'You white boy, you ain't gonna run on us today. This is ridiculous. Why are you giving offensive linemen the ball?'

He went on to give examples of the nicknames he heard throughout the season. Patrick said his favorite was "The Avalanche."

"I heard that one," Hillis replied. "I heard 'White Rhino.' I heard ... Chuck Norris.'"

Hillis also said that he knows most people "don't have a lot of faith" in him, but he uses it as motivation.

Comments

[JenInOhio]

05:04 PM on 01/24/2011

HIllis is a beast! He is not complaining. He is the best thing to happen to the Browns in ages.

This is the third day in a row I am trying to say something nice about the guy. We will see if this one gets deleted, too. I am pasting this one to complain to HP if it does.

[MVPost]

12:11 PM on 01/24/2011

There remains a widely understood and accepted double standard about race where taunting and joking are concerned. Blacks and whites can joke about a player being white, and blacks can make black jokes, but whites need tread carefully when making racial taunts or black jokes. This comes from our long history of racial inequality and prejudice. I don't think anyone is complaining about it here.

[Leto II]

11:34 PM on 01/24/2011

'widely understood and accepted double standard'

I'm neither white nor black. Do I have to accept it too?

[MVPost]

03:06 PM on 01/25/2011

Standards are standards. No one has to accept them.

[JessCostello]

01:27 AM on 01/29/2011

What are you talking about? What a weird post. I don't let random black or white people make racial jokes at my expense, and what kind of craven, self-hating White person would be cool with standing by while someone is using racial slurs against another white person? That's pathetic.

[Raw Ron]

12:38 PM on 01/23/2011

ya I get it but if you ever have heard what they all call eachother this is mild by comparison

[dct1999]

10:53 AM on 01/23/2011

Hillis is not complaining, he's just telling truths about the trash talk directed his way.

He didn't compare it to anything else and he didn't claim that he was victimized in any way.

Leave the man alone.

[CatfishJohn]

10:48 AM on 01/23/2011

This guy might be a Haley Barbour early campaign "plant"

[Derek Mandel]

09:19 AM on 01/23/2011

Hillis fumbles quite a bit. He is a talented back, but if continues with his fumbles, he will be out of the league regardless of race.

[JessCostello]

01:29 AM on 01/29/2011

No he won't. He's got tons of production and can catch as well. Hell Adrian Peterson fumbled even more than Hillis then fixed it.  If the Browns have someone to throw to other than him they won't be keyed on him.

[Rashad Parnell]

03:21 AM on 01/23/2011

Hillis is from Arkansas, those white boys are not scared of SHIT out there..lol.. You think a few name calling is going to hurt him! He played ball with the brothas his whole life.. I'm sure he is not taking any of that personal.. Its these Politically Correct sissies thats trying coward down a GROWN MAN game.. Hillis was a BEAST this year.. Jay Z said it best, " Men lie, Women Lie, But Numbers Don't! So all you policitcal correct clowns out there.. Leave Real SPORTS for the GROWN UPS.. How about you PC folks do something productive and help Olbermann get his job back!!

[AbeMartin]

08:35 AM on 01/23/2011

Good post.  I'll fan and fave ya on this one.  The only people whose opinions Hillis cares about are his team and his owners.  As long as he moves the football and gets the yards, the first downs and the TD's he can look like Gumby for all they care.

[CatfishJohn]

10:49 AM on 01/23/2011

from dud to stud overnight..ah yes, the wonders of HGH.

[Immhotep]

10:46 PM on 01/22/2011

When I was in the Diplomatic corp, serving in a Caribbean Island, I was enjoying myself at a reggae concert when a German Diplomat sidled up to me, and without prompting, said, "Now, I know what Black people feel Germany."
"What?" I asked.
He pointed out that he was the only Caucasian in the place. I was aghast! The dude felt out of place just because he was the only Caucasian in the place! What if he had to search and compete for work and livelihood as a maligned minority?
Peyton Hillis now has a small idea what black people put up with on a daily

[JessCostello]

01:30 AM on 01/29/2011

Meh, he gets insults directed at him, you feel out of place. I remember the black people rampaging and beating the hell out of the non-black kids while black administrators turned a blind eye. So spare us your insight.

[OldCowboy]

09:46 PM on 01/22/2011

Come on, Dude. Put your man pants on and suck it up.

[okakura]

02:23 PM on 01/22/2011

If anyone actually listens to the interview on the Dan Patrick Show, you would learn the following...

1) Patrick asked Hillis if any players ever trash-talked about him being white, which is a different thing than "taunting."

2) Hillis said that a few people did and laughed at a few of the nicknames they called him - 'Chug' Norris in particular.

This HuffPo headline and pseudo-summary mischaracterizes both the tone and the content of the interview.

[cheeriogirl]

01:08 PM on 01/22/2011

Peyton, I couldn't care less what color you are; you ROCK as a running back, and we Brown's fans are THRILLED to have you!

[cvbnm67]

12:23 PM on 01/22/2011

So the point of this story is to blame who for not having more white running backs or that black players are racists? If you are black and a good quarterback white players will respect you, if you are white and can carry the rock you will get your due. There is only room for racisim where there is a lack of talent.

[emncaity]

04:02 AM on 01/24/2011

Wow. Let me know where I can come to the land of unicorns, where this comment comes from.

I spent a lot of time around both college and pro athletes, both as player and staffer, and I--and everybody else who's spent that kind of time--can tell you unequivocally that racism cuts both ways on every multiracial team with which I've ever been associated, in games, lunchrooms, living situations, you name it. If you think black players and fans can't be racist, you really are living a fantasy. I've also seen coaches prefer "more athletic" (= black) players over white players who were clearly more accomplished as players by every measure and every bit as "athletic" in any meaningful way, to the detriment of the team. I wouldn't say that's as common as player-to-player or fan-to-player racism, but it happens.

I can also tell you that as a (white) basketball player, it became routine for me to get four or five steals and get by my defender at least that many times (I was very quick and had a great first step, was a good shooter and a really good passer), or block three or four shots, before the other team would figure out that it wasn't a fluke. Up to that point, and sometimes beyond it, you'd see a black defender getting really frustrated and having to explain himself to teammates on the way down the court or at time-outs. Seriously.

[Puzzlr]

11:58 AM on 01/22/2011

So is this the reverse of the stereotype that only white men can quarterback? Sheesh!

[xzwq]

11:35 AM on 01/22/2011

Poor guy.

[joeblow]

10:13 AM on 01/22/2011

I'm aghast! Someone had to temerity to call him a 'white guy'! The audacity!!!

[emncaity]

04:04 AM on 01/24/2011

Right. Because you wouldn't object at all to "what is a black boy doing out there at quarterback?". Mm-hmm.

[joeblow]

06:48 AM on 01/24/2011

I think you've been asleep for a while....like maybe the last decade or more. White guys call themselves 'white guy.' I don't think you'll find too many African Americans calling themselves what you suggest.
Sounds like your issues go a bit deeper than can be addressed here. But I can't help you...YOU need to help yourself, dude!