This is the month where Spiller needs to earn his next contract

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I get that, I just think its a bit of an unfair one because we clearly know he wasn't 100% and now with time off he certainly looks like a dynamic back. If in 4 weeks he's still sitting at less than 100 AP yards a game your point has more relevance (imo).

Why is it unfair? This is the time when we needed him and he couldn't produce. Whether a guy can stay healthy and produce through injury is a big consideration if you are talking about giving him big money or making him the centerpiece of your team.

Titans have large issues at QB and WR with Locker and Britt. CJ2K had a bad last year but he's on pace for a 1,000 yards this year and just ripped off 150 and 2 TD's v. Rams on Sunday (first 100+ and rushing TD's of the season).

You're making my point. Even when Johnson was dominant, he couldn't carry a team because halfbacks just don't do that anymore. Now that he's just another guy, a fate that befalls halfbacks faster and more frequently than other positions, his contract is a massive albatross.

[DraftBoy]

Why is it unfair? This is the time when we needed him and he couldn't produce. Whether a guy can stay healthy and produce through injury is a big consideration if you are talking about giving him big money or making him the centerpiece of your team.

Not many players whose game is running and cutting can do much of anything when they have a bad wheel. Spiller gutted it out and still made some plays even though he was a shell of his normal self.

You're making my point. Even when Johnson was dominant, he couldn't carry a team because halfbacks just don't do that anymore. Now that he's just another guy, a fate that befalls halfbacks faster and more frequently than other positions, his contract is a massive albatross.

Umm...yea I think that was established a while ago when the league stopped being RB dominant.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I get that, I just think its a bit of an unfair one because we clearly know he wasn't 100% and now with time off he certainly looks like a dynamic back. If in 4 weeks he's still sitting at less than 100 AP yards a game your point has more relevance (imo).

11 touches, 34 yards

[DraftBoy]

11 touches, 34 yards

It was not a good game from, no doubt about it.

[Novacane]

Is CJ a FA this year?

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Is CJ a FA this year?

It's confused on the web. Some sites say he's a free agent in 2015, others in 2016.

[kingJofNYC]

This staff has done poor job utilizing CJ in space.

i don't expect him back with this franchise when his contract runs out. Both parties will move on, can't see them investing money in a RB when they don't want to pay a FS, a position that is harder to fill by the way.

[BertSquirtgum]

CJs contract year is 2 years away. He will be a free agent after the 2015 season. So far this year, he should be very happy it isn't a contract year. He runs east to west more than I've ever seen from him in the past.

[TacklingDummy]

Another wasted 1st round pick, when you have lynch and Jackson on the roster.

[BillsFever21]

I don't believe in giving huge money to a RB unless it's somebody like AP in his prime. Even with him the Vikings can't be a consistent winner.

I like Spiller but he only has one great season since we drafted him and has shown to get injured easily. He's obviously not an every down RB or he would be 4 years into his career. He isn't a workhorse and shouldn't be paid as such. It's too easy to find reliable RB's in the draft.

By the time his contract is up he will be about 28 years old. Considering durable RB's start breaking down by 30 years old then it would be a huge risk to give him a long-term contract. If it's still two years away then the subject is meaningless at this time. If it's after next year then it's something you need to start thinking about and planning for.

I wouldn't be opposed to drafting a RB in the middle rounds next season. Freddie isn't getting any younger and it could be someone to compete with and possibly replace Spiller if it came down to it. If we could get Spiller signed with a modest contract then I would do it. If we're talking CJ or AP money then forget about it. It would be more like Darren Sproles type of money. He would be lethal on a team like the Saints that could use him in that type of a role but with better rushing ability along with it.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I'm going to re-visit this, because as it stands now we have a championship caliber defense being held back by a horrendous offense. And with 2 games to go, Spiller is the only help coming. If Spiller, as the expectation seems to be, opts out of his final year and tries the FA market then I think these games will loom large in the contract he's offered.

[Typ0]

I was going to start a thread about this too. It's big. Spiller is healthy and fresh. The potential is there for him to be a big difference maker in the coming nine weeks. Everything we have seen from him indicates he's capable of taking it to the house at any time and he should have a huge burst to throw at defenses right now. I hope he brings it seeing the offense threaten more than the defense and ST would be a welcomed sight.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Literally finished with 8 touches for a net ZERO yards.

CJ seems like a really nice guy, but I hope to god he opts out this year.

[Mace]

Literally finished with 8 touches for a net ZERO yards.

CJ seems like a really nice guy, but I hope to god he opts out this year.

He'll have a great success someplace else, time to move on. I think the announcer guy had just relayed the Hackett thought they meant to work him back into the offense by using his strengths and that very play they ran him into the line for minus 2. I don't blame Spiller whatever. He was a great player we had no business taking.

[Scumbag College]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/c.j.-spiller/

If I'm reading this right, CJ is set to make in the neighborhood of 4.5 million dollars in 2015 if he signs the option on his contract. If I am a GM on any of the other 31 NFL teams, would I sign the guy for any money near that??? I think CJ would be wise to take another 4.5 mil from Buffalo for 2015 and try to get one more big contract next year.

Personally, I'd like to see him back. Unless the Bills hit some sort of QB lottery, they are going to have either a rookie or garbage QB starting in 2015 and need as many RBs as possible to catch 1 yard dumpoffs that might be able to break a long gain.

[DynaPaul]

He earned himself a new contract alright... I'm thinking vet minimum with escalators.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

He'll have a great success someplace else, time to move on. I think the announcer guy had just relayed the Hackett thought they meant to work him back into the offense by using his strengths and that very play they ran him into the line for minus 2. I don't blame Spiller whatever. He was a great player we had no business taking.

I don't believe that's true anymore. He had one magical season where everything seemed to catch fire (and even then he was racking up yardage in blowout losses). Yet, somehow in the other four seasons no one has found the mystical rubik's cube solution that will get him consistent yardage?

He's just not that good.

[coastal]

CJ is thhe perfect back for a FUNCTIONING offense.

in a dysfunctional offense that is doing its best not to drown on a daily basis, he gets lost in the garbage.

move along and focus on solidifying the oline... and find a more appropriate feature back. For those about to scream about Freddy being the feature... he's over 30 and the PERFECT 3rd down back.

i consider cutting CJ this year and looking elsewhere for a back to play the first two downs.

[Mace]

I don't believe that's true anymore. He had one magical season where everything seemed to catch fire (and even then he was racking up yardage in blowout losses). Yet, somehow in the other four seasons no one has found the mystical rubik's cube solution that will get him consistent yardage?

He's just not that good.

I don't know, maybe you're right. Thing I keep noticing though is that they never do anything with him but run him into the line until he starts going sideways. With a Philadelphia, or a Seattle, or even a KC (where they once made use of the more wee, brittle McCluster), etc....I still think someone will find a good use for him. A few times, under Gailey, they threw him out wide, instant matchup issue, he'd always be open in space, waving his arms and they'd never throw to him.

Next team just won't treat him like an ordinary run into the line guy, like we shouldn't have done.

[YardRat]

I bet that 9th one would have been a doozy, though, regardless of where he got the ball on the field.