Archives for April 25, 2017

'Those poor Bills. Buffalo declined to match the Patriots’ offer to Gillislee (two years, $6.4 million), making him the latest in an ever-growing line of players to change sides in the AFC East rivalry. Wide receiver Chris Hogan swapped Bills Mafia for Patriots Nation when he signed with New England last offseason, and highly touted cornerback Stephon Gilmore followed suit when he inked a five-year, $65 million contract last month. Hogan, like Gillislee, was a restricted free agent, while Gilmore was unrestricted.'

'Gillislee was reportedly extended an offer sheet by the Patriots that is worth $6.4 million and $4 million in the first year. The Bills had the cap space to match the offer, but with LeSean McCoy already atop their depth chart, the price tag may have been too rich for them to choose to hold onto the 26-year-old.'

'Gillislee is the only true in between the tackles back and figures to get most of the carries in obvious running situations.'

'Overall, Gillislee has played in 23 NFL games with two starts and has 154 rushing attempts for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns and 15 receptions for 79 yards with one touchdown.'

'Gillislee's addition increases the likelihood unrestricted free agent LeGarrette Blount won't be re-signed after leading New England in rushing last season. The Patriots now have six running backs under contract.'

'A fifth-round pick in 2013, Gillislee rushed for 577 yards and eight touchdowns on 101 carries last season as LeSean McCoy's backup in Buffalo.'

'Gillislee, 26, was the Bills' No. 2 running back last season behind LeSean McCoy, rushing 101 times for 577 yards and eight touchdowns. Among NFL running backs with a qualifying number of carries, Gillislee led the league in yards per rush (5.71), rushes per touchdown (12.6), first-down rate on rushes (38.6 percent) and third-down conversion rate on rushes (75 percent).'

'Not matching the contract means the Bils will receive the first of the Patriots' two fifth round picks in this week's draft, No. 163 overall. It also means the Bills will clear $1.798 million from their 2017 salary cap, the amount Gillislee was already counting on his RFA tender.'

'Given that Gillislee's new first-year salary would eat up over 20-percent of the Bills' remaining cap room, that he'll be 28 years old by the end of the deal, and because they'll be getting a much-needed fifth-round pick out of the deal, letting the running back go is the best decision for all parties.'

'“The best running back group I've seen in a decade,” said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. “So it's loaded at that position with high-end talent as well as depth.”'

'New England’s offer sheet makes Gillislee one of the highest-paid committee running backs in the league. The Patriots also signed RB Rex Burkhead this offseason, who will join Dion Lewis and James White.'

'“I think it’s timely to point out the Bills didn’t do that last year when New England signed restricted free-agent receiver Chris Hogan to an offer sheet,” he said. “In that situation, the club was decisive in reporting to the NFL almost immediately that it wouldn’t match Hogan’s offer sheet.”'