Tweet
The personnel pool for running backs
By Pat Kirwan
Special to NFL.com
(Feb. 14, 2003) -- If a team doesn't have a "bell cow" running back, or if the one it has has lost a step, then it's time to decide how to get a 1,000-yard guy in the backfield.
Last year, Miami knew it was going nowhere without one, so it traded to get Ricky Williams from New Orleans. Trades are few and far between in the NFL; the more traditional methods include free agency and the draft.
As always, there are a number of teams looking to change the look of their roster at the ball-carrier position. Among other teams, Houston needs to put a top-flight runner behind David Carr for him to excel. Dallas might conclude it's time to move on without Emmitt Smith. New England might consider attempting to upgrade from Antowain Smith, Pittsburgh has to wonder if Jerome Bettis has much mileage left and Carolina can't be sure if DeShaun Foster will recover from a serious injury before his career ever started.
The first place to look is at the potential free-agency market.
The running-back list might be the weakest pre-free-agency list of any position. In fact, the first stop for some quality could be the "restricted free-agent" list. A restricted free agent is a player who has played three seasons and his contract has expired. In most cases, if a restricted free agent signs with a new team, his old team gets draft compensation.
Jamel White of the Browns was an undrafted player out of college. If the Browns don't give him a high enough qualifying offer, a new club will not have to give any draft picks for him. White has a style and size similar to Priest Holmes. He will never be the starter in Cleveland with first-round pick William Green there, but when given the chance White has played well. He gained 4.4 yards per carry on his way to 470 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught an eye-opening 63 passes.
Aaron Stecker of the Bucs is another restricted free agent who will require a major tender offer. He was an undrafted player, so quite a few teams will have their eye on him. As one pro personnel director said, "With (Michael) Pittman playing so well in the Super Bowl, Stecker remains a backup but he could be more than that for other teams."
Stacey Mack, a backup for the Jaguars, leads the unrestricted list. (Unrestricted free agents have played at least four seasons.) The fourth-year, 235-pound back had 877 yards in 11 starts in 2001, and came back in 2002 with a 4.4 average in limited duty. The most intriguing statistic about Mack is he has rushed for 18 touchdowns in the past two seasons. Not many of the top starters can boast that number.
Moe Williams of the Vikings is another free agent who knows where the end zone is. In limited duty this past season, he crossed the goal line 11 times on the ground, but he has been around for eight seasons and never established himself as a starter who could carry the ball 25 times a game for a whole year.
Olandis Gary is tops on some teams' list, but he has an injury history. By season's end, he was Denver's No. 3 running back and rushed for only 147 yards in 2002.
Filling out the UFA list are a number of other backups like James Jackson of Cleveland, Shawn Bryson of Buffalo, Tyrone Wheatley of the Raiders and James Allen of the Texans. Not a name here who will excite too many offensive coordinators.
MORE
By Pat Kirwan
Special to NFL.com
(Feb. 14, 2003) -- If a team doesn't have a "bell cow" running back, or if the one it has has lost a step, then it's time to decide how to get a 1,000-yard guy in the backfield.
Last year, Miami knew it was going nowhere without one, so it traded to get Ricky Williams from New Orleans. Trades are few and far between in the NFL; the more traditional methods include free agency and the draft.
As always, there are a number of teams looking to change the look of their roster at the ball-carrier position. Among other teams, Houston needs to put a top-flight runner behind David Carr for him to excel. Dallas might conclude it's time to move on without Emmitt Smith. New England might consider attempting to upgrade from Antowain Smith, Pittsburgh has to wonder if Jerome Bettis has much mileage left and Carolina can't be sure if DeShaun Foster will recover from a serious injury before his career ever started.
The first place to look is at the potential free-agency market.
The running-back list might be the weakest pre-free-agency list of any position. In fact, the first stop for some quality could be the "restricted free-agent" list. A restricted free agent is a player who has played three seasons and his contract has expired. In most cases, if a restricted free agent signs with a new team, his old team gets draft compensation.
Jamel White of the Browns was an undrafted player out of college. If the Browns don't give him a high enough qualifying offer, a new club will not have to give any draft picks for him. White has a style and size similar to Priest Holmes. He will never be the starter in Cleveland with first-round pick William Green there, but when given the chance White has played well. He gained 4.4 yards per carry on his way to 470 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught an eye-opening 63 passes.
Aaron Stecker of the Bucs is another restricted free agent who will require a major tender offer. He was an undrafted player, so quite a few teams will have their eye on him. As one pro personnel director said, "With (Michael) Pittman playing so well in the Super Bowl, Stecker remains a backup but he could be more than that for other teams."
Stacey Mack, a backup for the Jaguars, leads the unrestricted list. (Unrestricted free agents have played at least four seasons.) The fourth-year, 235-pound back had 877 yards in 11 starts in 2001, and came back in 2002 with a 4.4 average in limited duty. The most intriguing statistic about Mack is he has rushed for 18 touchdowns in the past two seasons. Not many of the top starters can boast that number.
Moe Williams of the Vikings is another free agent who knows where the end zone is. In limited duty this past season, he crossed the goal line 11 times on the ground, but he has been around for eight seasons and never established himself as a starter who could carry the ball 25 times a game for a whole year.
Olandis Gary is tops on some teams' list, but he has an injury history. By season's end, he was Denver's No. 3 running back and rushed for only 147 yards in 2002.
Filling out the UFA list are a number of other backups like James Jackson of Cleveland, Shawn Bryson of Buffalo, Tyrone Wheatley of the Raiders and James Allen of the Texans. Not a name here who will excite too many offensive coordinators.
MORE
