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We don’t know exactly when it’s going to happen, with multiple reports surfacing it could commence in as little as two to four weeks. We also don’t know what the rule will be in regards to seasons accrued, whether it’s fourth, fifth of sixth year players meeting minimum requirements. But even with the NFLPA decertifying and the owners locking the players out, there is going to be NFL free agency.
Without heavily delving into the legal aspects of how free agency will work (we’ll save that for someone more in the know) we’re going to focus on the Buffalo Bills and what approach they make take in the open market.
It’ s no secret the Bills could use a number of roster upgrades. When you’re coming off a 4-12 season and haven’t sniffed the playoffs in over a decade, finding quality veterans to blend in with incoming rookies is a necessity to improve your football team– especially in a division stacked with New York, New England and Miami.
Last year’s free agency period brought mediocre results for first-year general manager Buddy Nix. He hit on Dwan Edwards before the defensive end injured his hamstring, but the rest of Nix’s signings were blanks fired from the talent pool gun. Cornell Green was a disaster at right tackle before injuring his knee and guys like Andra Davis, Reggie Torbor and Akin Ayodele did little to help cure Buffalo’s losing ways.
But that was then. Yesterday we embarked on series of 2011 free agency breakdowns by position with quarterbacks.
Today we continue at a position few think the Bills will do anything with via free agency– -running backs.
There are few guarantees when it comes to the Bills. If there’s one thing, however, that can be projected with acute confidence, is the organization won’t spend any significant loot on a free agent running back.
Nor should they.
Buffalo is set at running back with versatile veteran Fred Jackson leading the way and highly touted C.J. Spiller preparing to enter his second season. Jackson once again proved his value last year; rushing for 927 yards and five touchdowns on 222 carries. He also caught 31 passes for 215 yards and two more scores. On the surface, his numbers don’t jump off the page as overly impressive, but don’t forget he failed to get 10 carries in a game through Buffalo’s first five contests because of the logjam with Spiller and then-starter, Marshawn Lynch.
Had Jackson been the featured back from week one, he would’ve easily surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground. Jackson had 614 yards rushing over the second half of the season, including four 100-yard games that over the course of 16 games would’ve given him over 1,200. He’s also signed for two more years at an affordable salary, not to mention he’s arguably the most respected player on the team. So to make a long story short— Jackson isn’t going anywhere.
Spiller was brought along painfully slow his rookie season to the point it frustrated many, amassing just 283 rushing yards on 74 carries. Essentially, he spent his first year as little more than a glorified backup and kick returner. But make no mistake about it… Buddy Nix didn’t invest the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft with visions of Spiller becoming the next Eric Metcalf in mind. Spiller will have a larger role in the offense in 2011 in both the running and passing game and as long as he satisfies Chan Gailey’s requirement to become a better blocker, the sky is still the limit for the speedster.
Gailey learned several tough lessons in his first year as head coach. One of them was that a three-horse running back system didn’t work with Jackson and Spiller. Both backs need more touches to get into rhythm and Gailey soon discovered as such. Lynch was eventually traded to Seattle in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice for numerous reasons, but none more so than the need for Jackson and Spiller to get more game day reps.
Therefore, with two productive guys in tow and plenty of tread left on their tires, Buffalo isn’t going to jump into the free agency for another running back, at least not one with a significant price tag.
Having said that, it’s not my job to close the door on the Bills thinking differently and pursuing a notable running back in the open market. With that in mind, here are some of the better backs that will be available when free agency starts.
DeAngelo Williams: As long as players with five years get to hit the market, Williams can be playing for a new team in 2011. Injuries limited him to six games last year, but Williams ran for 1,117 and 1,515 yards the two previous seasons. Any team willing to take a chance that Williams’ injuries over the last two years were simply bad breaks could be getting themselves an elite running back. Personally, I expect the Miami Dolphins to make a major push for him. That’s because—–
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams: Both of Miami’s running backs are free agents and neither is expected back. Williams still looked good for the most part but is going to be 34 years old; a fossil for running backs. Brown is 29 but slowed down considerably last year. Both will probably have to accept backup roles to continue their respective careers. I don’t see either being a fit for Buffalo.
Clinton Portis: It may seem like he’s been in the league forever, but he’s only 30 years old. He’s also averaged just 89 carries per season over the last two years so there may be some NFL life left in him.
Michael Bush: The free agent is likely done in Oakland with the emergence of Darren McFadden. Of this lot, Bush probably has the most upside. He should have several more appealing options at his disposal than getting a light load in Buffalo.
Joseph Addai: Once a featured back, Addai is probably resigned to the fact he’ll be a third down and change of pace guy for the remainder of his career. Hopefully, we’re not saying the same about Spiller in a couple of years.
Cedric Benson: Two years ago he looked like the blue chip prospect most thought he’d become when he was drafted by Chicago. Last year he looked like the same stiff we’ve seen for most of his career.
There’s other intriguing options that potentially could form the third of a three-legged running back tandem should Gailey fall in love with the idea again. They include Brandon Jackson, Kevin Smith, Jerome Harrison, Brian Westbrook, Mike Bell and Julius Jones.
Summary & Prediction: I’d be completely shocked if the Bills jumped into the free agent market and signed a running back with any significant value. Buffalo has much more important holes to fill and Ralph Wilson’s money should flow elsewhere. The Bills failed to tender third running back Quinton Ganther but that doesn’t mean he won’t be brought back. There’s several other low key, low priced options the Bills can and probably will explore, including a late draft pick. Don’t expect a big name running back to join the roster, and don’t be disappointed it doesn’t happen either.
Coming Next: Wide Receivers
Without heavily delving into the legal aspects of how free agency will work (we’ll save that for someone more in the know) we’re going to focus on the Buffalo Bills and what approach they make take in the open market.
It’ s no secret the Bills could use a number of roster upgrades. When you’re coming off a 4-12 season and haven’t sniffed the playoffs in over a decade, finding quality veterans to blend in with incoming rookies is a necessity to improve your football team– especially in a division stacked with New York, New England and Miami.
Last year’s free agency period brought mediocre results for first-year general manager Buddy Nix. He hit on Dwan Edwards before the defensive end injured his hamstring, but the rest of Nix’s signings were blanks fired from the talent pool gun. Cornell Green was a disaster at right tackle before injuring his knee and guys like Andra Davis, Reggie Torbor and Akin Ayodele did little to help cure Buffalo’s losing ways.
But that was then. Yesterday we embarked on series of 2011 free agency breakdowns by position with quarterbacks.
Today we continue at a position few think the Bills will do anything with via free agency– -running backs.
Nor should they.
Buffalo is set at running back with versatile veteran Fred Jackson leading the way and highly touted C.J. Spiller preparing to enter his second season. Jackson once again proved his value last year; rushing for 927 yards and five touchdowns on 222 carries. He also caught 31 passes for 215 yards and two more scores. On the surface, his numbers don’t jump off the page as overly impressive, but don’t forget he failed to get 10 carries in a game through Buffalo’s first five contests because of the logjam with Spiller and then-starter, Marshawn Lynch.
Had Jackson been the featured back from week one, he would’ve easily surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground. Jackson had 614 yards rushing over the second half of the season, including four 100-yard games that over the course of 16 games would’ve given him over 1,200. He’s also signed for two more years at an affordable salary, not to mention he’s arguably the most respected player on the team. So to make a long story short— Jackson isn’t going anywhere.
Spiller was brought along painfully slow his rookie season to the point it frustrated many, amassing just 283 rushing yards on 74 carries. Essentially, he spent his first year as little more than a glorified backup and kick returner. But make no mistake about it… Buddy Nix didn’t invest the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft with visions of Spiller becoming the next Eric Metcalf in mind. Spiller will have a larger role in the offense in 2011 in both the running and passing game and as long as he satisfies Chan Gailey’s requirement to become a better blocker, the sky is still the limit for the speedster.
Gailey learned several tough lessons in his first year as head coach. One of them was that a three-horse running back system didn’t work with Jackson and Spiller. Both backs need more touches to get into rhythm and Gailey soon discovered as such. Lynch was eventually traded to Seattle in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice for numerous reasons, but none more so than the need for Jackson and Spiller to get more game day reps.
Therefore, with two productive guys in tow and plenty of tread left on their tires, Buffalo isn’t going to jump into the free agency for another running back, at least not one with a significant price tag.
Having said that, it’s not my job to close the door on the Bills thinking differently and pursuing a notable running back in the open market. With that in mind, here are some of the better backs that will be available when free agency starts.
DeAngelo Williams: As long as players with five years get to hit the market, Williams can be playing for a new team in 2011. Injuries limited him to six games last year, but Williams ran for 1,117 and 1,515 yards the two previous seasons. Any team willing to take a chance that Williams’ injuries over the last two years were simply bad breaks could be getting themselves an elite running back. Personally, I expect the Miami Dolphins to make a major push for him. That’s because—–
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams: Both of Miami’s running backs are free agents and neither is expected back. Williams still looked good for the most part but is going to be 34 years old; a fossil for running backs. Brown is 29 but slowed down considerably last year. Both will probably have to accept backup roles to continue their respective careers. I don’t see either being a fit for Buffalo.
Clinton Portis: It may seem like he’s been in the league forever, but he’s only 30 years old. He’s also averaged just 89 carries per season over the last two years so there may be some NFL life left in him.
Michael Bush: The free agent is likely done in Oakland with the emergence of Darren McFadden. Of this lot, Bush probably has the most upside. He should have several more appealing options at his disposal than getting a light load in Buffalo.
Joseph Addai: Once a featured back, Addai is probably resigned to the fact he’ll be a third down and change of pace guy for the remainder of his career. Hopefully, we’re not saying the same about Spiller in a couple of years.
Cedric Benson: Two years ago he looked like the blue chip prospect most thought he’d become when he was drafted by Chicago. Last year he looked like the same stiff we’ve seen for most of his career.
There’s other intriguing options that potentially could form the third of a three-legged running back tandem should Gailey fall in love with the idea again. They include Brandon Jackson, Kevin Smith, Jerome Harrison, Brian Westbrook, Mike Bell and Julius Jones.
Summary & Prediction: I’d be completely shocked if the Bills jumped into the free agent market and signed a running back with any significant value. Buffalo has much more important holes to fill and Ralph Wilson’s money should flow elsewhere. The Bills failed to tender third running back Quinton Ganther but that doesn’t mean he won’t be brought back. There’s several other low key, low priced options the Bills can and probably will explore, including a late draft pick. Don’t expect a big name running back to join the roster, and don’t be disappointed it doesn’t happen either.
Coming Next: Wide Receivers
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