Pick your poison. Rice/Spiller

[boyst]

With Dixon, Brown and Jackson already set to return to the Bills next year, would we better off adding Rice cheap or spending big on Spiller? Rice now can let us address RB in 2016 instead of handcuffing us to Spiller for 4 years.

 

Convince me I am completely off base about letting Spiller go and bringing Rice in? Of course, I could change my opinion over the next two weeks if Spiller lights it up.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

I voted neither. Ray Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2013. You can get that production from a minimum-salary player, and without the media circus.

 

As for Spiller, he has proven to me that he doesn't possess the vision to be a regular contributor. He's best off getting 8-10 touches per game and it's foolish to pay $4 million for that.

[Dorkington]

CJ out of the two, but I'm not sure if I want either... CJ is great in theory, but was only successful with Chan's offensive scheming, and can't seem to stay healthy.

[boyst]

I voted neither. Ray Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2013. You can get that production from a minimum-salary player, and without the media circus.

 

As for Spiller, he has proven to me that he doesn't possess the vision to be a regular contributor. He's best off getting 8-10 touches per game and it's foolish to pay $4 million for that.

http://www.spotrac.com/blog/nfl-minimum-salaries-veteran-discounts/

 

7-9 yr vets are $885k/year for 2015

 

Even a 2-3 year is about $600k.

 

I gave him more because we so seldom come close to the salary cap I figured why not just up it a little.

[Hot Buffalo Wings]

Don't need either. Bryce Brown can be solid and Boobie is a monster. Fred is a work horse (see Packers game).

[Peace Frog]

Resign Spiller and try to trade him.

[NoSaint]

I voted neither. Ray Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2013. You can get that production from a minimum-salary player, and without the media circus.

 

As for Spiller, he has proven to me that he doesn't possess the vision to be a regular contributor. He's best off getting 8-10 touches per game and it's foolish to pay $4 million for that.

 

the obvious question with rice is will that 1 year be the new normal, or was it an exception. i believe he put on some weight for 13, and had a lot of carries the years prior - only one carry over 20 yards that season. Would fresh legs, and being a little leaner get some of that explosion back?

 

for spiller, i think at 4m it wouldnt be a crazy deal to make but itll depend on how the OC wants to use him and GM wants to build the roster. the price tag though... i think its a fair number.

Edited December 17, 2014 by NoSaint

[hondo in seattle]

I voted neither. Ray Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2013. You can get that production from a minimum-salary player, and without the media circus.

 

As for Spiller, he has proven to me that he doesn't possess the vision to be a regular contributor. He's best off getting 8-10 touches per game and it's foolish to pay $4 million for that.

 

We all know why you are questioning CJ's vision.

 

Yet Gailey got over 1,000 yards at 6 yards per carry from Spiller. If Gailey was smart enough to figure out how to use Spiller correctly, why aren't Marrone and Hackett?

 

But since Marrone and Hackett probably won't be any smarter next year than this, maybe it is best to cut Spiller loose.

[CountDorkula]

Resign Spiller and try to trade him.

 

You realize by doing that Buffalo is on the hook for dead money?

 

If you are doing that, just let him go. The dead money would not be worth the 5-6 round pick you get.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

the obvious question with rice is will that 1 year be the new normal, or was it an exception

 

for spiller, i think at 4m it wouldnt be a crazy deal to make but itll depend on how the OC wants to use him and GM wants to build the roster. the price tag though... i think its a fair number.

 

With running backs, I think it's safest to assume that any degradation in ability is the new normal. Players at that position tend to fall off cliffs.

Edited December 17, 2014 by SageAgainstTheMachine

[Kirby Jackson]

I voted Spiller. With the Bills defense in place his ability to make big plays is crucial. Obviously he needs to be used differently but could play a valuable role (a la Sproles).

[bigK14094]

Don't need either. Bryce Brown can be solid and Boobie is a monster. Fred is a work horse (see Packers game)./

I saw the Packers game live, Fred is mostly done as a RB in the league. He runs with heart, guile, skill, but not speed. His 3 yds /carry would be 4.5 if he had anything left on the speed front. He might survive as a thrid down back a year or two, but cannot and should no be the #1 back. Lots of intangibles with Fredex, but father time has robbed him of his speed. Maybe the groin injury is still hampering him...sort that out in training camp next year. In the mean time, keep CJ, he is a great talent....but not sure I can see the dollars shown in the poll. CJ isn't injury prone.....although it hurt us the last two years....he did pretty good before that. Edited December 17, 2014 by bigK14094

[Manther]

With Dixon, Brown and Jackson already set to return to the Bills next year, would we better off adding Rice cheap or spending big on Spiller? Rice now can let us address RB in 2016 instead of handcuffing us to Spiller for 4 years.

 

Convince me I am completely off base about letting Spiller go and bringing Rice in? Of course, I could change my opinion over the next two weeks if Spiller lights it up.

Spiller will not cost that much being $4.5/year and a total of $20 over 4 years. And, if he does, it is not that expensive. It lines up with many return men that also play a position. Leodis makes more and his contract was justified and sold as a return man and 3rd CB.

[KD in CA]

the obvious question with rice is will that 1 year be the new normal, or was it an exception. i believe he put on some weight for 13, and had a lot of carries the years prior - only one carry over 20 yards that season. Would fresh legs, and being a little leaner get some of that explosion back?

 

I notice a significant number of posters have concluded Rice is completely washed up based on that one season. Few if any of them have mentioned how much CJ's YPC have declined this season vs. prior years.

[Maddog69]

It's an invalid Poll, in my opinion.

The options are all loaded.

I would want Spiller back but only at reduced costs.

And I would not want Rice because of his age, reduced effectiveness and mostly because he's clearly a dirtbag.

[NoSaint]

 

 

With running backs, I think it's safest to assume that any degradation in ability is the new normal. Players at that position tend to fall off cliffs.

 

but typically not at 26 years old (hes only 27 now).... and plenty of guys have up and down years in the middle.

[Dorkington]

I notice a significant number of posters have concluded Rice is completely washed up based on that one season. Few if any of them have mentioned how much CJ's YPC have declined this season vs. prior years.

 

Uh, basically everyone is pissed that Hackett/Marrone can't get the same productivity out of CJ....

[NoSaint]

 

 

Uh, basically everyone is pissed that Hackett/Marrone can't get the same productivity out of CJ....

 

but few are tying together that our guy has ups/downs, so its not unreasonable that rice might too

 

i think his point is that while acknowledging that production isnt straight line, most also assume with rice it must be a straight downward line

[Dorkington]

but few are tying together that our guy has ups/downs, so its not unreasonable that rice might too

 

i think his point is that while acknowledging that production isnt straight line, most also assume with rice it must be a straight downward line

 

If Baltimore could only get 3 ypc out of him, and our offense is a disaster, why would we be able to get more production out of Rice? Or are we assuming our scheme is going to change?

[FireChan]

 

 

Uh, basically everyone is pissed that Hackett/Marrone can't get the same productivity out of CJ....

 

Unless Marrone & Hackett have CJ's eyes in a jar, I don't know how you can really blame them.