RB Fred Jackson released

[FireChan]

Per Rapaport

 

As ex-#Bills RB Fred Jackson mulls his next move, numerous playoffs teams expressing interest including #Seahawks. Jackson & #Beastmode?

7:25am - 1 Sep 15

Edited September 1, 2015 by FireChan

[FireChan]

Source: Ex-#Bills RB Fred Jackson is flying to Seattle this morning to meet with #Seahawks. Both sides expect a deal gets done.

[Kirby Jackson]

Source: Ex-#Bills RB Fred Jackson is flying to Seattle this morning to meet with #Seahawks. Both sides expect a deal gets done.

I can live with that.

[YoloinOhio]

I was wondering if that would happen. He and Marshawn are still close. Nice fit if it happens. And they are my pick to go to the SB in the NFC, so Fred will almost certainly experience playoffs there.

 

Seattle is also having worrisome issues with pass protection from the OL, so they probably jumped at this.

Edited September 1, 2015 by YoloinOhio

[Wayne Cubed]

Source: Ex-#Bills RB Fred Jackson is flying to Seattle this morning to meet with #Seahawks. Both sides expect a deal gets done.

 

It would be a nice landing spot for him. Wonder if he moves his family, they have their roots firmly planted in Buffalo.

[YoloinOhio]

 

It would be a nice landing spot for him. Wonder if he moves his family, they have their roots firmly planted in Buffalo.

i know, it must be really hard. His son is a star RB for Hamburg Little Loop! But that's life in the NFL I guess.

 

Probably needs its own thread...

[Wayne Cubed]

i know, it must be really hard. His son is a star RB for Hamburg Little Loop! But that's life in the NFL I guess.

 

I don't think he would, kids will be starting school, it would be a lot to ask them. He'll just probably live in Seattle temporarily and fly back when he can.

[PlayoffsPlease]

I am confused Rex Ryan says the team is not better without Fred Jackson. The rest of the organization says we are in "win now" mode. Those seem like conflicting views.

[YoloinOhio]

 

I don't think he would, kids will be starting school, it would be a lot to ask them. He'll just probably live in Seattle temporarily and fly back when he can.

yes that would be much easier, especially considering it could be just a one year deal.

I am confused Rex Ryan says the team is not better without Fred Jackson. The rest of the organization says we are in "win now" mode. Those seem like conflicting views.

if you read the whole quote, he said it isn't better "right now" when he was asked the question, but that someone would need to step up and take his place (insinuating then it would be).

[Stranded in Boston]

I will miss Fred as much as anyone. The guy personified Buffalo's Rocky-Balboa-lift-yourself-off-the-mat ethos, and it's sad that he will not be on the roster if (when!) we make the playoffs this year.

 

However -- not to knock any other posters -- I find very odd the comments that Fred was waived to keep Bryce Brown on the roster so that Doug Whaley can "save face". Whaley strikes me as a guy earnestly trying to improve the roster. But more to the point, the Bills traded their 2015 4th round pick for Brown. Lost in the tumult of the last two days is that the Bills also waived Ross Cockrell. Cockrell was a 4th round pick in 2014 -- i.e., he cost the Bills the same as Bryce Brown. If Whaley was trying to save face over a 4th round pick, shouldn't he also have clung to Cockrell?

 

Anyhow, I hope Fred has a good season with whomever he ends up. And I hope nobody on the Bills wears #22 for a while ...

Edited September 1, 2015 by Stranded in Boston

[atlbillsfan1975]

 

It would be a nice landing spot for him. Wonder if he moves his family, they have their roots firmly planted in Buffalo.

Trade snow for rain? I hear Seattle is an amazing city, on my list to visit. I hope the deal gets done for him and Seattle, way better than FJ in NE.

[hondo in seattle]

I've lived in Seattle for 6 years and have never become the slightest Seahawk fan despite the SB runs.

But if Fred Jackson comes to Seattle, I'll start chanting "Go Hawks!" - at least when Freddy has the ball.

[Coach Tuesday]

He'll finally see the playoffs - and may even get a ring. Good for him, he deserves it more than anyone.

[stevestojan]

Some of you guys sound like jaded ex-wives. This is a business, you understand that, right? Some of you now hate Rex? Should he keep on every nice guy that the fans love regardless of their talent level? The guy makes one 40 yard run in preseason that could have been timed with a sundial and you think he should stay? Good move by Rex or whomever made the decision.

 

Just win.

Edited September 1, 2015 by stevestojan

[Gugny]

Some of you guys sound like jaded ex-wives. This is a business, you understand that, right? Some of you now hate Rex? Should he keep on every nice guy that the fans love regardless of their talent level? The guy makes one 40 yard run in preseason that could have been timed with a sundial and you think he should stay? Good move by Rex or whomever made the decision.

 

Just win.

 

[eball]

I will miss Fred as much as anyone. The guy personified Buffalo's Rocky-Balboa-lift-yourself-off-the-mat ethos, and it's sad that he will not be on the roster if (when!) we make the playoffs this year.

 

However -- not to knock any other posters -- I find very odd the comments that Fred was waived to keep Bryce Brown on the roster so that Doug Whaley can "save face". Whaley strikes me as a guy earnestly trying to improve the roster. But more to the point, the Bills traded their 2015 4th round pick for Brown. Lost in the tumult of the last two days is that the Bills also waived Ross Cockrell. Cockrell was a 4th round pick in 2014 -- i.e., he cost the Bills the same as Bryce Brown. If Whaley was trying to save face over a 4th round pick, shouldn't he also have clung to Cockrell?

 

Anyhow, I hope Fred has a good season with whomever he ends up. And I hope nobody on the Bills wears #22 for a while ...

 

The Whaley/ego take is being thrown out there by some misguided fans and a couple of predictable media members (Bucky Gleason/Jerry Sullivan) who don't have a freaking clue.

 

Whaley knows his future (and legacy) depends upon building a winner, not stroking his own ego or proving himself right all the time. He has already exhibited on numerous occasions that he will not cling to a draft pick or a trade acquisition simply because he made the deal.

[Storm Front]

This was a crap move by the front office. What does it say to the rest of the guys on the Bills? Give your all to this team so we can dump you?

[billsgpr88]

You will be dearly missed Freddy

[DrDawkinstein]

This was a crap move by the front office. What does it say to the rest of the guys on the Bills? Give your all to this team so we can dump you?

 

No, it says, "give your all to the team and we'll keep giving you well-paid extensions for 10 YEARS before we look to move on as part of the business you already know exists."

[Not at the table Karlos]

I'm cool with him going to Seattle

[John Cocktosten]

I am confused Rex Ryan says the team is not better without Fred Jackson. The rest of the organization says we are in "win now" mode. Those seem like conflicting views.

 

Because it makes no sense and lacks any logic. But just fall in line.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

I don't think he would, kids will be starting school, it would be a lot to ask them. He'll just probably live in Seattle temporarily and fly back when he can.

 

I expect it depends on the deal he's offered. I'm sure kids want to watch Dad play. We're getting ahead of ourselves, I just want them to sign him.

[DrDawkinstein]

 

I expect it depends on the deal he's offered. I'm sure kids want to watch Dad play. We're getting ahead of ourselves, I just want them to sign him.

 

They can watch on TV or fly out on the weekends. If I were one of those kids, Id rather stay in my school with my friends than move right now just to watch my dad work at his job. They've seen it all before. JMO.

[birdog1960]

some unbiased observers believe the bills could have done better for Jackson: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/31/fred-jackson-would-have-done-anything-to-retire-with-bills/

 

I agree.

 

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jackson would have “done anything” to retire with the Bills. Jackson, however, wasn’t given that chance"

Edited September 1, 2015 by birdog1960

[RuntheDamnBall]

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'm with you. I fail to see where anyone else has proven themselves in matters of pass protection and in terms of their general value to the Bills community.

[DrDawkinstein]

some unbiased observers believe the bills could have done better for Jackson: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/31/fred-jackson-would-have-done-anything-to-retire-with-bills/

 

I agree.

 

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jackson would have “done anything” to retire with the Bills. Jackson, however, wasn’t given that chance"

 

 

Already covered. He certainly had the chance to retire as a Bill, and still does! He could retire today if that's what he really wanted to do.

[NoSaint]

some unbiased observers believe the bills could have done better for Jackson: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/31/fred-jackson-would-have-done-anything-to-retire-with-bills/

 

I agree.

 

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jackson would have done anything to retire with the Bills. Jackson, however, wasnt given that chance"

well, he could have retired monday. if they wanted the guys they wanted and he wasnt one of them, thats all that would be left.

[RuntheDamnBall]

 

No, it says, "give your all to the team and we'll keep giving you well-paid extensions for 10 YEARS before we look to move on as part of the business you already know exists."

They were decent extensions but I'd hesitate to call them market rate. Fred never got one of the giant signing bonus deals. That's not a huge deal, as I'm get the impression that he didn't / doesn't live super-irresponsibly. That said, never being "overpaid" likely meant that the Bills never had to make a painful decision like this until now.

[birdog1960]

well, he could have retired monday. if they wanted the guys they wanted and he wasnt one of them, thats all that would be left.

it apparently removes the cap angle from the argument. so that leaves only talent. intangibles clearly weren't factored in. I guess will see who was correct on the talent determination by watching the seahawks.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

I am confused Rex Ryan says the team is not better without Fred Jackson. The rest of the organization says we are in "win now" mode. Those seem like conflicting views.

 

I think it makes more sense if you look at the whole quote:

"A lot of times you are restricted by your limitations, with several limitations that you have, you know as a team," Ryan told reporters. "Sometime you can’t keep everybody you want to keep. If that was the case we certainly would have kept Fred."

Asked how the Bills got better by releasing Jackson, Ryan responded, "I am not going to say that. We are not as good as we were. I mean that is a given. There is a lot of guys, there are some we cut. We are not as good as we were because we let a lot of good players go and I said that. So I think that is kind of how I feel. But I am not going to say that we are a better team because Fred Jackson is not here. I certainly don’t believe that. But it is part of the process I mean it is what happens."

 

Rex is simply paying tribute to the football chops of the guys he had to cut: they're good players, and it's a given that a team that cuts good players, didn't just get better by cutting them.

But every team also operates within limitations of only being able to keep 53 players + practice squad (young guys only), so they have to cut good players and take the hit to team quality they get by cutting good players.

 

Because he's Rex Ryan, he's not going to say "well of course, we think the guys we kept are better players or at least as good but better for us in some way". He expects you understand that, and it would detract from his (sincerely) giving props to the guys he had to cut.

[John Cocktosten]

I will miss Fred as much as anyone. The guy personified Buffalo's Rocky-Balboa-lift-yourself-off-the-mat ethos, and it's sad that he will not be on the roster if (when!) we make the playoffs this year.

 

However -- not to knock any other posters -- I find very odd the comments that Fred was waived to keep Bryce Brown on the roster so that Doug Whaley can "save face". Whaley strikes me as a guy earnestly trying to improve the roster. But more to the point, the Bills traded their 2015 4th round pick for Brown. Lost in the tumult of the last two days is that the Bills also waived Ross Cockrell. Cockrell was a 4th round pick in 2014 -- i.e., he cost the Bills the same as Bryce Brown. If Whaley was trying to save face over a 4th round pick, shouldn't he also have clung to Cockrell?

 

Anyhow, I hope Fred has a good season with whomever he ends up. And I hope nobody on the Bills wears #22 for a while ...

 

4th round picks are cut all the time. However, a new GM in charge of rebuilding picks a bust QB in the first rd, then trades another 4th for a RB that's done nothing and blows another one on a guys who cant last a full two seasons looks way worse. Not hard to understand at all when it's not cherry picked to fit your narrative.

[NoSaint]

 

 

Already covered. He certainly had the chance to retire as a Bill, and still does! He could retire today if that's what he really wanted to do.

yea, that quote should change to "id do anything to keep playing for the bills," simply for accuracies sake

[thebandit27]

 

4th round picks are cut all the time. However, a new GM in charge of rebuilding picks a bust QB in the first rd, then trades another 4th for a RB that's done nothing and blows another one on a guys who cant last a full two seasons looks way worse. Not hard to understand at all when it's not cherry picked to fit your narrative.

 

Let me get this straight: you're discussing 3 picks out of 3 whole drafts, and then accusing others of cherry-picking?

 

Also, your argument still lacks the context of the situation. What should they have done with the #8 overall pick in 2013, knowing then only what they knew at the time? Maybe trade down, add an extra 2nd, and take a shot at a QB?

 

What about all of the other picks in the 2013-2015 drafts?

 

Woods

Kiko

Goodwin

Duke

Gragg

Watkins

P. Brown

Henderson

 

As you so appropriate put it: not hard to understand at all when it's not cherry picked to fit your narrative.

[Kelly the Dog]

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!!!

Yeah, I agree with all of that. To me, if they keep three, and it is Boobie over Brown, the leadership issue will be what put him over the top, and went into the thought process of releasing Fred.

[A Dog Named Kelso]

I'm surprised that Ryan, who once gave LaDainian Tomlinson a second life with the New York Jets, didn't go to the mat for Jackson instead of caving into "the process.'' He has instead created a wayward home for players with rap sheets and questionable character and the only message he sent with the cutting of Fred Jackson is that there was no room on his team for a player who was the epitome of class and leadership — and who can still play. Why are we shocked? Maybe Jackson should've broken Tyrod Taylor's jaw.

 

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/columnist/roth/2015/08/31/rex-ryan-fumbled-letting-fred-jackson-go/71460372/

 

The above quote pretty much sums it up.

[John Cocktosten]

 

Let me get this straight: you're discussing 3 picks out of 3 whole drafts, and then accusing others of cherry-picking?

 

Also, your argument still lacks the context of the situation. What should they have done with the #8 overall pick in 2013, knowing then only what they knew at the time? Maybe trade down, add an extra 2nd, and take a shot at a QB?

 

What about all of the other picks in the 2013-2015 drafts?

 

Woods - 699 5tds @ 10YPC is hardly special for a a second rd pick.

Kiko - Very good pick

Goodwin - LOL

Duke - LOL

Gragg - 3rd string TE

Watkins - top 4 picks should be good

P. Brown - Solid pick

Henderson - Rated the the 2nd worst tackle by PFF.

 

As you so appropriate put it: not hard to understand at all when it's not cherry picked to fit your narrative.

 

Not sure what you're saying here but he's hit on very few players Dareus, KW, Mario, Bradham, Gilmore were all here.

Edited September 1, 2015 by John Cocktosten

[PromoTheRobot]

Cutting Fred reminds me of when we cut Thurman, Bruce, and Andre in 2000 coincidentally, the same year the drought began.

No worries there.

[Snorom]

The Ax grinders club is mid season form

 

fans of this team never disappoint with their blatant over reactions and incomprehensible emotional tirades.

[K-9]

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/columnist/roth/2015/08/31/rex-ryan-fumbled-letting-fred-jackson-go/71460372/

 

The above quote pretty much sums it up.

I stopped at Roth's assertion that Boobie's only advantage is age and cheaper contract. That tells me Roth doesn't really have a clue about Dixon's role on this team.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[ALLEN1QB]

After giving it some thought keeping Fred would mean getting rid of one of the younger players. We would be looking for another RB next year when he retires. Makes perfect sense business decision.