RB Fred Jackson released

[DCBongo]

If Fred was truly done, releasing him early is respectful as it gives him a chance to sign on with another team. I get he is slower and older, but he would not be asked to hold the same place on the team. Shady will get 70% of the snaps at least. Letting Fred come in to spill him would have maintained toughness in the backfield with a powerful runner. If the reports were correct and they did not even ask Freddie to rearrange his deal it makes this even sadder. He was the best Bill for a long time and deserved to have one more run wearing the red, while and blue! Sometimes, the business side of the NFL sucks eggs!

[BringBackOrton]

Fred deserved a proper send off. Everyone knew his time in Buffalo was coming to an end. To cut him, two weeks before the season opener is a slap in the face to him. You had players (AW) wearing his number to honor him, Bradham saying he was devastated and KW/Eric Wood saying they are shocked and stunned by what happened. Here we are two weeks before the start of the season and we cut one of the most respected players in the history of our organization. Let him go in March, give him a Steve Smith type retirement ending season, don't cut him with Ross Cockrell and a bunch of guys who won't ever play a down in this league again. It was the wrong way to go about parting ways.

Edited September 1, 2015 by jmc12290

[Kelly the Dog]

If we keep three, it ain't Boobie that's leaving.

 

GO BILLS!!!

Is this your opinion or some you know from a conversation with someone who knows?

 

To me, Boobie is almost redundant with Karlos. And even though Boobie is probably the 2-3 best ST we have, he used to be so much more important in that area than he is now. The entire team for the most part can play ST, or at least a lot more,of the reserves play ST too than used to, and a couple of the starters like Woods and Graham and Bradham are good ST players. Karlos is also known to be a good ST.

[NoSaint]

Is this your opinion or some you know from a conversation with someone who knows?

 

To me, Boobie is almost redundant with Karlos. And even though Boobie is probably the 2-3 best ST we have, he used to be so much more important in that area than he is now. The entire team for the most part can play ST, or at least a lot more,of the reserves play ST too than used to, and a couple of the starters like Woods and Graham and Bradham are good ST players. Karlos is also known to be a good ST.

Plus, I don't know the whole story but it doesn't seem roman LOVED boobie in San Fran, in that he was allowed to walk for this contract

[Dragonborn10]

If Fred was truly done, releasing him early is respectful as it gives him a chance to sign on with another team. I get he is slower and older, but he would not be asked to hold the same place on the team. Shady will get 70% of the snaps at least. Letting Fred come in to spill him would have maintained toughness in the backfield with a powerful runner. If the reports were correct and they did not even ask Freddie to rearrange his deal it makes this even sadder. He was the best Bill for a long time and deserved to have one more run wearing the red, while and blue! Sometimes, the business side of the NFL sucks eggs!

Karlos Williams is the power runner.

[MarkAF43]

Fred deserved a proper send off. Everyone knew his time in Buffalo was coming to an end. To cut him, two weeks before the season opener is a slap in the face to him. You had players (AW) wearing his number to honor him, Bradham saying he was devastated and KW/Eric Wood saying they are shocked and stunned by what happened. Here we are two weeks before the start of the season and we cut one of the most respected players in the history of our organization. Let him go in March, give him a Steve Smith type retirement ending season, don't cut him with Ross Cockrell and a bunch of guys who won't ever play a down in this league again. It was the wrong way to go about parting ways.

You can't give a guy a proper send off when he doesn't want to retire and is no longer a part of your plan for the season.

[Mikie2times]

 

I may be missing context here, but I think it's pretty unfair to say the two are mutually exclusive. I do not support the front office in this move, but to say that I am now unsupportive of the team is pretty bogus and a misstatement of the fact.

 

 

ndirish1978 = RJ

 

 

Talk about coincidences.

[Meatplow]

I've been knockin' around here for years and never really had any inclination to post (you guys cover everything in spades, there was no need ). However, in light of recent events, I felt compelled to create an account and express both my surprise and disapproval with the decision by OBD to release Freddy. If that man has done anything he has certainly given his heart and soul for this team and the city of Buffalo through some of the darkest years of the franchise. It would have been fitting to see him retire as a Buffalo Bill without a doubt. Thanks for being one of the classiest players to ever wear the jersey.

 

You'll be sorely missed and never forgotten.

 

MP

 

Edited September 1, 2015 by Meatplow

[KD in CA]

Not when it comes to negativo. His tin foil hat is on and has everything figured out. Anyone who agrees with the decision is planted here by Whaley and Rex.

 

Hey, it's a paycheck.

[HalftimeAdjustment]

Karlos Williams is the power runner.

 

We'll see how his power holds up post-surgery.

[MarkAF43]

 

Hey, it's a paycheck.

Wait. You're getting paid for this? They told me its my responsibility as a ST holder.

[BringBackOrton]

You can't give a guy a proper send off when he doesn't want to retire and is no longer a part of your plan for the season.

 

Then cut him in march, in mini camp, when Rex was hired... don't cut him now.

Edited September 1, 2015 by jmc12290

[MarkAF43]

 

Then cut him in march, in mini camp, when Rex was hired... don't cut him now.

They cut him prior to the first cut deadline which gives him the best chance to latch on with another team. You don't cut him in March or earlier because your team hasn't taken full shape by then. This was more than likely the best time to let him go.

[Rocky Landing]

Is this your opinion or some you know from a conversation with someone who knows?

 

To me, Boobie is almost redundant with Karlos. And even though Boobie is probably the 2-3 best ST we have, he used to be so much more important in that area than he is now. The entire team for the most part can play ST, or at least a lot more,of the reserves play ST too than used to, and a couple of the starters like Woods and Graham and Bradham are good ST players. Karlos is also known to be a good ST.

It's been my opinion that we are going to carry two fullbacks-- Felton, and Connor. And, Connor is a ST stud. Boobie may still be cut, IMO.

[timtebow15]

Any chance they can sign him back at a reduced salary? I wish they would have cut one of the WRs who will never see any real time this year. There are just too many positions they have to keep an extra guy like TE and 3 QBs and an extra KO specialist, etc.

[Pondslider]

Any chance they can sign him back at a reduced salary? I wish they would have cut one of the WRs who will never see any real time this year. There are just too many positions they have to keep an extra guy like TE and 3 QBs and an extra KO specialist, etc.

There's no way they go through this day, call a press conference basically just to talk about it only to sign him again a few weeks later. It was reported that they never even tried to get him to take a paycut so his salary by itself wasn't the problem. He's gone.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Pondslider

[folz]

First chance I've had to post today...and I just have to add to the chorus:

 

Horrible decision (yes, I understand the reasons why...but it still sucks).

 

THANKS FREDDIE!!!!!!!! You've been awesome, a true Bill through and through. Great player, great person. I can't wait to see your

name on the wall of fame!

 

But, before that, I'm envisioning a scenario. Fred gets picked up by the Pats. Week 2 Fred comes out and makes some amazing

play and the whole stadium chants "Fred-dy" "Fred-dy." Sticking it to Whaley a bit and showing their love for Fred. Even if it was the right decision for the franchise

moving forward (see the Patriots dumping Lawyer Malloy a week before the season, et al. Good teams do this). But, every once in a generation,

or so, there is someone who should be the exception to that rule and Fred should have been it. I won't be rooting for the Patriots or any other team he goes

to to win against the Bills, but it sure as hell will be hard not to cheer for him when he makes a play...and I have never cheered for a non-Bills player

against the Bills...not even Thurman in Miami.

 

Players can come and go and I'm still just a Bills fan, I root for the team, not just individual players (as much as I love certain guys for their play and/or personality

and root for all of them to succeed as individuals)...but just as I am forever a Bills fan, I will also forever be a Fred Jackson fan wherever he is!

 

And I'm not changing my avatar in protest, damn it!

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Very strange move, from a football perspective.

 

We have no reliable backup. karlos has never played a down. They will never give the ball to Bryce. Boobie, maybe-- but fred is better than him in every respect.

[DJasper Probincrux III]

First chance I've had to post today...and I just have to add to the chorus:

 

Horrible decision (yes, I understand the reasons why...but it still sucks).

 

THANKS FREDDIE!!!!!!!! You've been awesome, a true Bill through and through. Great player, great person. I can't wait to see your

name on the wall of fame!

 

But, before that, I'm envisioning a scenario. Fred gets picked up by the Pats. Week 2 Fred comes out and makes some amazing

play and the whole stadium chants "Fred-dy" "Fred-dy." Sticking it to Whaley a bit and showing their love for Fred. Even if it was the right decision for the franchise

moving forward (see the Patriots dumping Lawyer Malloy a week before the season, et al. Good teams do this). But, every once in a generation,

or so, there is someone who should be the exception to that rule and Fred should have been it. I won't be rooting for the Patriots or any other team he goes

to to win against the Bills, but it sure as hell will be hard not to cheer for him when he makes a play...and I have never cheered for a non-Bills player

against the Bills...not even Thurman in Miami.

 

Players can come and go and I'm still just a Bills fan, I root for the team, not just individual players (as much as I love certain guys for their play and/or personality

and root for all of them to succeed as individuals)...but just as I am forever a Bills fan, I will also forever be a Fred Jackson fan wherever he is!

 

And I'm not changing my avatar in protest, damn it!

Oh Crash, you do make speeches...

[GG]

My Patsie* friends immediate reaction was, how quickly is he going to be a Patriot *

[ExWNYer]

First of all, let me say that I love Fred Jackson. My kids, too. In fact, my older son has had his jersey for several years now. FJ has been and always will be one of my all-time favorite Bills. I thank him for the memories, wish him nothing but the best, and look forward to the day when he signs a one day contract to retire as a Buffalo Bill and has his name go up on the team's Wall of Fame. That said, I can't and don't get bent out of shape when a player leaves, even one as beloved as Freddie. It's a business and players come and go. Even fan favorites will eventually move on via free agency, retirement, or the cruel cut a la Fred. Am I fan of this move? Absolutely not. But it is what it is and no amount of hand wringing or complaining about it will change the fact that he's gone. I pull for the laundry and I'm moving on in the hopes that this move ultimately gets the team to its intended goal even if it isn't the popular choice among the fan base at the moment. Thanks again for being a perpetual oasis in a 15 year desert, Freddie. You truly are a class act and will be missed.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Extremely tough day to say goodbye to Fred. I bought a custom throwback Jackson jersey at some point his rookie year after the Washington game. Loved his effort, loved the guy, love an underdog. I had to be one of the first 50 people to get a Freddie Bills jersey! I wish him luck anywhere, even NE, and even against us as long as we win (especially at the ralph).

 

I tend to believe I enjoyed rooting for a mediocre team filled with guys I loved - Fred, Fitz, George Wilson, CJ, even Stevie.... more than I might a winning team with Percy, Richie, and LeSean...

 

Seek professional help. I loved rooting for Fredex, SJ13, Fitz and the Senator too, but having our winning hopes wrecked every year was NOT enjoyable

[FireChan]

 

Seek professional help. I loved rooting for Fredex, SJ13, Fitz and the Senator too, but having our winning hopes wrecked every year was NOT enjoyable

I think we had a much more lovable cast on the team. For whatever reason.

 

The one silver lining in all of this is that it's clear that this is Rex's team. With Marrone, Chan or any of our past HC's, I think Freddy would've been grandfathered on the team. Not to say if he sucked, he'd still play, but he'd get the benefit of the doubt when it came to cuts. Rex is a new HC with no ties to the status quo. That should be a positive moving forward.

 

But god help any RB who screws up this season. Too many Freddy jerseys in the stands for them to not get an earful.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Fred is one of the classiest people to ever put on a Bills uniform. I wish him nothing but the best and it I just sad to see his Bills career come to an end this way.

 

Yep, This.

 

Fred Jackson ‏@Fred22Jackson

 

Thank you Buffalo!! We have loved being part of this community. The fan support has been overwhelming. The Old Man isn't done yet!!

 

What a class guy. I hope he does get a shot elsewhere.

[SJDK]

I don't like the Rex hire. He brings in jets players. He brings in poor character players. He releases a high character guy like Fred (I don't think this was doug's call). Picks the wrong QB.. Sorry, TT is too small and he will get hurt playing his style. We will be stuck with cassel because EJ will probably be released... Sorry but this guy is hurting us. No wonder the jets go 6-10.

[BuffaninATL]

Well played Pegula... Demand that Freddy stay in Buffalo... Get Season Ticket sales to an all-time high.... Dump Freddy... No Refunds.

You are a class act.

Nice try with the weak conspiracy theory

Everyone's upset but someone can and will assume the leadership/mentor role in the room. My ultimate fantasy would be for NE to go after Fred and he says "anywhere but the Pats"

[K-9]

Is this your opinion or some you know from a conversation with someone who knows?

 

To me, Boobie is almost redundant with Karlos. And even though Boobie is probably the 2-3 best ST we have, he used to be so much more important in that area than he is now. The entire team for the most part can play ST, or at least a lot more,of the reserves play ST too than used to, and a couple of the starters like Woods and Graham and Bradham are good ST players. Karlos is also known to be a good ST.

Nothing more than a hunch based on others' informed opinions.

 

Karlos Williams is on a nice trajectory to be sure. I'm not sure he's at Dixon's level yet. Yes, we can line up 11 guys on special teams and they will play it, but there are those like Dixon and Easley, for example, who take it to another level. Both Karlos W and Boobie are not healthy though, so that may impact things moving forward. We both know that Dixon is highly regarded in the room, too; a real "glue" kind of guy, too. I think that counts for something, too.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Buffalo Barbarian]

From a talent standpoint Fred is a better back than Boobie and I'd rather have Fred. McCoy and Carlos can run short yardage

I don't like the Rex hire. He brings in jets players. He brings in poor character players. He releases a high character guy like Fred (I don't think this was doug's call). Picks the wrong QB.. Sorry, TT is too small and he will get hurt playing his style. We will be stuck with cassel because EJ will probably be released... Sorry but this guy is hurting us. No wonder the jets go 6-10.

 

Hey we can get the top QB in the draft, so it's all good

[Prickly Pete]

I can't believe that Boobie Dixon or Bryce Brown will have more impact on this team than Fred Jackson this season. And I don't believe either will have much impact in the future. It had to be about the money, and changing the leadership of the team.

[bbb]

Hey we can get the top QB in the draft, so it's all good

 

 

[eball]

I can't believe that Boobie Dixon or Bryce Brown will have more impact on this team than Fred Jackson this season. And I don't believe either will have much impact in the future. It had to be about the money, and changing the leadership of the team.

 

Both Boobie and Bryce play special teams, and Fred wasn't going to see the field much as a part of the Bills' regular offense...so you'd be wrong.

[PartyZombies]

Nice try with the weak conspiracy theory

Everyone's upset but someone can and will assume the leadership/mentor role in the room. My ultimate fantasy would be for NE to go after Fred and he says "anywhere but the Pats"

 

As devastated as I am about this (I have 2 Freddie jersey's one of which he was nice enough to sign after his meet and greet was over and was in the parking lot, I was late getting out of work, and the other to wear after he signed the first) this would help take the sting off, even if just a little bit.

[YoloinOhio]

 

Then cut him in march, in mini camp, when Rex was hired... don't cut him now.

they didn't have Karlos yet. They didn't know what their RB group would look like in March. Their responsibility is to the team. Edited September 1, 2015 by YoloinOhio

[Rob's House]

Now that I've had a chance to sleep in it I still don't like it.

 

I know a lot of people only care about the jersey, but it's kind of hard for me to get as into it when the only player on offense that's been around for more than 2-3 years is a lineman.

[YoloinOhio]

Now that I've had a chance to sleep in it I still don't like it.

 

I know a lot of people only care about the jersey, but it's kind of hard for me to get as into it when the only player on offense that's been around for more than 2-3 years is a lineman.

i am choosing to look forward and see it as a good thing, because the offense has not been good for a very long time. Edited September 1, 2015 by YoloinOhio

[dave mcbride]

Waking up this morning, I like this move less. It's a dumb decision.

[KD in CA]

i am choosing to look forward and see it as a good thing, because the offense has not been good for a very long time.

 

Same here. I guess some people are still longing for the glory days of Fitz/Stevie/Fred but I'm happy to try something new.

[Rob's House]

 

Same here. I guess some people are still longing for the glory days of Fitz/Stevie/Fred but I'm happy to try something new.

Because if Fred was on the team it would be the equivalent of bringing back Fitz.

[Wayne Cubed]

I woke up and don't feel any different about the move. I understand it and understand that NFL rosters are a numbers game. They tried to find a spot for Fred, having him try punt returns, knowing his touches would be severely limited. With Karlos Williams looking very good, I'd imagine Fred's touches would go down to maybe 4-5 a game and he doesn't play special teams. That's a good amount of money and a roster spot for maybe 4-5 touches per game.

[dave mcbride]

Same here. I guess some people are still longing for the glory days of Fitz/Stevie/Fred but I'm happy to try something new.

I don't think that's fair. If the Bills had been good on offense, he still would have been a very valuable player. The Bills' woes on offense always boiled down to the qb anyway.