The Denver Broncos Should Cut Ronnie Hillman Today

Aug 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) is tackled by Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Texans defeated the Broncos 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for the Denver Broncos to give up on the idea that running back Ronnie Hillman is ever going to be a meaningful contributor to this football team. I’ve always been a fan of his talent and thought it fit well into what the Broncos like to do on offense, but the time has come to cut ties.

Hillman is not producing on the field and he refuses to grow up off the field, and the Broncos can do better. Let’s start with the lack of on the field production from the 2012 third-round pick.

When Hillman does get into the game, he runs scared. He tip toes towards the line of scrimmage cowering before anyone actually hits him. The Broncos made the mistake Sunday of running him up the middle on a third and short play but Hillman embarrassed himself with a pathetic effort.

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The number one reason the Broncos drafted Hillman was for his speed and they thought he could bring a homerun threat on the outside, and as a receiver out of the backfield. I’m not sure what happened between his days at San Diego State and the Broncos, but Hillman is slow.

He can’t beat linebackers to the edge and is easy to cover when he does go out in a pass pattern. Even when he is open, Hillman often short arms balls and is obviously afraid to get hit.

Then there’s the issue of ball security. Granted it was Montee Ball who fumbled on Sunday but that was his first fumble in quite some time. Every time Hillman has the ball, I’m waiting for it to pop out of his arms. Hillman is also terrible in pass protection and makes halfhearted efforts at picking up the blitz.

Hillman plays as if he’s just happy to pick up a paycheck the next day which would explain why he’s so good in training camp, and so bad in the regular season. He works hard enough and plays well enough to make the team, but then relaxes when he makes the final roster.

The Broncos are a team with one goal and Hillman is not on board, so the Broncos need to kick him off of the bus.

If the poor play on the field wasn’t enough for the Broncos to cut Hillman, the refusal to grow up should give them the final push. He has no clue what it takes to be a pro and is more interested in high school hijinks than winning football games.

No one outside of Dove Valley knows what happened in Dallas during the last preseason game, but it’s obvious that it rubbed the Broncos the wrong way. Both Hillman and Kavon Webster were involved but I’m willing to bet that Hillman was the brains behind whatever stupid stunt it was.

The time has come to send Hillman packing and give playing time to Juwan Thompson. They also need to bring up Kapri Bibbs from the practice squad. The running game needs some sort of spark and maybe Thompson and Bibbs can give it to them.

The Broncos have given Hillman every opportunity to succeed on the field and he has returned that faith with poor play, and a childish attitude. The Broncos are about winning and Hillman is about paychecks, cut him today!