LeVeon Bell: What better fit for him than Buffalo?

[ProcessTruster]

11 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

Let's say we finish 8-8, Allen plays great to finish the season. Buffalo looks like a team that is going to compete for a long time. We would suddenly become an attractive destination for many FAs. We also have a ton of cap space to work with and our offense lacks a playmaker. Why not Bell? Give him what he wants, Buffalo now has the best RB in the NFL. Build that OL in the draft and free agency. Buffalo adds a guy that regularly puts up 2,000 all purpose yards a season. Hopefully Zay and Foster continue to develop alongside Allen and I  could definitely see us making a playoff push. Bell gets a 4 year deal, his contract would be up around the same time Josh Allen's is, so no conflict there. Definitely think offense would not be a problem anymore.

too many $$$

 

[GreggTX]

You know, that doesn't sound as completely crazy as it might have a month or 2 ago. Shady for Bell straight up or something like that???

[Bing Bong]

4 hours ago, 34-78-83 said:

I'd prefer not to tie up that much salary in RB. Not with the rules as they currently exist.

 

Dude it's going to be so damn hard to spend money.. like name me all the likely top FAs. It's hella dumb to go into the season 50M under the CAP like we're choosing to be a poor team in a baseball league instead of having the same New York Yankees payroll anybody else has.

 

Like who cares if we tie up a 3 year insane salary for a punter if we end up with too much money to even spend next few years.

 

If we're at that point give Bell a 2 year 50M guaranteed contract. Spend as much money as possible so long as we're mindful of upcoming re-signings when considering contract length.

 

We got 90M to spend on this lot: all DTs and LBs. Bell is the only offensive player, and other teams are in similar positions. Free agency is going to. Suck... Overpay for Bell lol why on Earth not.

Edited November 27, 2018 by PetermanThrew5Picks

[The Now Moment]

11 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

Bell is the best RB in the NFL and he had a year off. I'd take him over Kamara or Gurley. 4-year deal, ride him hard until he breaks down.

We have so many needs and 17 million for 1 running back is just too much for me.

11 hours ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

Do you understand what they mean by process?

Dude I've been preaching the process since the beginning my man.  I don't think a 17 million dollar running back or a 30 something back is a big part of their future.

[Bing Bong]

15 minutes ago, Buffalo30 said:

We have so many needs and 17 million for 1 running back is just too much for me.

We need to spend money. We have 90 million. Would you rather go into the season with 17M going nowhere (it don't rollover) or have it go to Bell to do friggin punt returns at the very least.. why the heck not. Hoarding cap salary isn't smart unless it's timed for upcoming major re-signing moves.

 

And he's 26 going on 27 lol

Edited November 27, 2018 by PetermanThrew5Picks

[H2o]

12 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

Better fits? The Jets, Colts, and Packers immediately come to mind.

I can see the Colts making this move. It would give Andrew Luck his Edgerrin James. They get Bell and another WR? Boom. 

[Dadonkadonk]

Lol. This board doesn't like the way Shady runs. It would implode watching Bell run behind this crap o-line. The only way I sign Bell is if DeCastro comes with him. Don't waste FA dollars on a RB. Shady, Ivory, and Murphy and a low round draft pick are fine with 3 new starters on OL.

[26CornerBlitz]

1 minute ago, H2o said:

I can see the Colts making this move. It would give Andrew Luck his Edgerrin James. They get Bell and another WR? Boom. 

 

Bell would also be another weapon in the passing game that Frank Reich would utilze to exploit matchups. 

[H2o]

Just now, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Bell would also be another weapon in the passing game that Frank Reich would utilze to exploit matchups. 

Just as Edgerrin was for Manning 

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, H2o said:

Just as Edgerrin was for Manning 

 

They have the cap room to pay him that's for sure.

[Buffalo03]

I said at one point how crazy would this offense be if we signed Bell and Kept McCoy next season. Think of all the crazy offensive combinations we could have with them on the field. Split one out wide and the other in the back field and then have multiple formations with both in the backfield at the same time. Defenses would be all sorts of messed up trying to defend that. I don't see us spending that much on a RB though

Edited November 27, 2018 by Buffalo03

[Southern Bills Fan]

McDermott doesn’t seem the type to go for dope smokers who have held out 2 out of the last 3 years 

[H2o]

Just now, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

They have the cap room to pay him that's for sure.

That offense is hard to slow down now. If they got Bell it would put Luck and Hilton on another level. Ebron has taken a huge step forward this year. Add, say, Tyrell Williams to go along that and that offense is top 5. 

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, H2o said:

That offense is hard to slow down now. If they got Bell it would put Luck and Hilton on another level. Ebron has taken a huge step forward this year. Add, say, Tyrell Williams to go along that and that offense is top 5. 

 

That would be scary as hell to face as an opposing defense.  What a difference in Ebron who has 12 TDs already this season. 

[billsfan89]

The Colts would be Bell's best fit in my opinion, they have the most cap space,  the oline, the QB, and some pass catching talent with TY and Ebron. If the Colts sign Bell and add a #2 reciever they could have the best offense in the league. 

 

I personally wouldn't want Bell for the Bill's, yes the Bill's have the cap space but I would rather they spend that money at Oline and WR much more pressing needs than RB as I would rather draft a RB in rounds 3 or 4 and stick with the vets Ivory and Shady for one more year. 

 

If I were the Colts I would sign Bell, sign a legit vet WR, resign Ebron, and make a couple big signings on defense they could have a loaded roster esp considering that they have an extra 2nd round pick that can fill even more holes with 3 picks early. 

Edited November 27, 2018 by billsfan89

[klos63]

13 hours ago, BillnutinHouston said:

Horrible fit for the Bills.  McD is about team, Bell is all about Bell.

Every player needs to look out for himself because the team won't. Pitt had no intention of signing Bell to an extension, what if Bell plays and has an Alex Smith type injury- he loses the long term contract he has earned. His actions seem selfish, but they make some sense.

[Bing Bong]

4 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Every player needs to look out for himself because the team won't. Pitt had no intention of signing Bell to an extension, what if Bell plays and has an Alex Smith type injury- he loses the long term contract he has earned. His actions seem selfish, but they make some sense.

Oof if McDermott is about team and Bell is about Bell, that means Bell's off the table? is McDermott about winning?? Because Bell is about that, and the team *should be about that. He just had to make sure he got some contract security in FA. Hasn't been a lockerroom issue before this year and now he's the board's villain

 

We hate runningbacks for some reason here.. but we suck at the skill positions. Skill position guys tend to be primadonnas. McDermott is going to have a hard time giving Allen talent if he's going to be so selective.

 

If we offered McDermott Bell, ODB, and DJax and he passed.. yeesh man he's not cut out for managing this new generation of talent. 

[Thurman#1]

13 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

Let's say we finish 8-8, Allen plays great to finish the season. Buffalo looks like a team that is going to compete for a long time. We would suddenly become an attractive destination for many FAs. We also have a ton of cap space to work with and our offense lacks a playmaker. Why not Bell? Give him what he wants, Buffalo now has the best RB in the NFL. Build that OL in the draft and free agency. Buffalo adds a guy that regularly puts up 2,000 all purpose yards a season. Hopefully Zay and Foster continue to develop alongside Allen and I  could definitely see us making a playoff push. Bell gets a 4 year deal, his contract would be up around the same time Josh Allen's is, so no conflict there. Definitely think offense would not be a problem anymore.

 

 

I respect his talent but don't think RBs, even Bell, are worth what he wants to get.

 

This is a fiscally conservative front office. They may well agree. They have a lot of money to spend, but also many needs. If they do give any FA a huge contract, I'd bet they do so at a more important position. I could be wrong, though, of course.

 

18 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Every player needs to look out for himself because the team won't. Pitt had no intention of signing Bell to an extension, what if Bell plays and has an Alex Smith type injury- he loses the long term contract he has earned. His actions seem selfish, but they make some sense.

 

 

Agreed. I have no problem with what he's done, but if I were a GM I just wouldn't give him the money he's looking for. But I wouldn't consider a guy who did that any kind of character problem or think of what he's done as anti-team.

Edited November 27, 2018 by Thurman#1

[Rochesterfan]

17 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Every player needs to look out for himself because the team won't. Pitt had no intention of signing Bell to an extension, what if Bell plays and has an Alex Smith type injury- he loses the long term contract he has earned. His actions seem selfish, but they make some sense.

 

Yep - except for the multiple extensions Pittsburgh offered him at 14+ million for the next 3 years and the 4 year extension they offered him last year at over 12 million a season.  Both deals would have made him the highest paid RB in the league at that time.

 

He wanted more - he wants to be paid as a high end WR at over 16+ million. 

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, Buffalo03 said:

I said at one point how crazy would this offense be if we signed Bell and Kept McCoy next season. Think of all the crazy offensive combinations we could have with them on the field. Split one out wide and the other in the back field and then have multiple formations with both in the backfield at the same time. Defenses would be all sorts of messed up trying to defend that. I don't see us spending that much on a RB though

 

 

I think it would be less "crazy" and more important to get more talented WRs thant to have another (extremely expensive) RB on the roster.  Defenses really wouldn't care about which RB is going to get the check down pass.    Stretch the field or watch the playoffs from your warm, southern state home, Bills players....

[Kelly the Dog]

Oh, I thought you meant an overpaid diva RB who didn't want to be here. 

[GoBills808]

I would be very surprised if he ends up anywhere other than with the Jets.

[stuvian]

I don't see us going this route but I would welcome it. He's a low mileage Shady.

 

The Steelers insulted the guy with a prove it deal after he played well through a Prove It deal. He deserves a long term deal

[PittsforDave]

Pass. Let him sit a couple of years. 

[Mat68]

40 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Yep - except for the multiple extensions Pittsburgh offered him at 14+ million for the next 3 years and the 4 year extension they offered him last year at over 12 million a season.  Both deals would have made him the highest paid RB in the league at that time.

 

He wanted more - he wants to be paid as a high end WR at over 16+ million. 

Those deals where only 10 mil guaranteed.  Like Gurley.  It's not really the overall number as it is the guaranteed money money a year for a Rb now.  

Edited November 27, 2018 by Mat68

[Buffalo03]

41 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

I think it would be less "crazy" and more important to get more talented WRs thant to have another (extremely expensive) RB on the roster.  Defenses really wouldn't care about which RB is going to get the check down pass.    Stretch the field or watch the playoffs from your warm, southern state home, Bills players....

I was thinking about having both with a better receiving core as well. If we can get a legit receiver and have both that would be crazy. That's what I was referring to. I wasn't referring to having only 2 big play RBs

[Boca BIlls]

Wont pay for a RB anymore. 

[Thurman#1]

2 hours ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

We need to spend money. We have 90 million. Would you rather go into the season with 17M going nowhere (it don't rollover) or have it go to Bell to do friggin punt returns at the very least.. why the heck not. Hoarding cap salary isn't smart unless it's timed for upcoming major re-signing moves.

 

And he's 26 going on 27 lol

 

 

It do rollover.

 

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2018/2/23/17045734/browns-carry-over-58-9-million-in-unused-cap-space-from-2017-to-2018-league-year

[mannc]

2 hours ago, Dadonkadonk said:

Lol. This board doesn't like the way Shady runs. It would implode watching Bell run behind this crap o-line. The only way I sign Bell is if DeCastro comes with him. Don't waste FA dollars on a RB. Shady, Ivory, and Murphy and a low round draft pick are fine with 3 new starters on OL.

I have a lot of sympathy for this view, as I believe most RBs are expendable, but I think Bell would be a worthwhile FA signing.  He’s a big, fast back who makes things happen in the passing game.  He’s a clear upgrade to anyone on the current roster, including Shady, and he’s the kind of back who will really help Allen’s development.  

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

I think it would be less "crazy" and more important to get more talented WRs thant to have another (extremely expensive) RB on the roster.  Defenses really wouldn't care about which RB is going to get the check down pass.    Stretch the field or watch the playoffs from your warm, southern state home, Bills players....

The problem is getting talented, fast free agent WRs to come here.  I think that’s a position that will have to be addressed mainly in the draft.

[billsfan89]

1 hour ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Yep - except for the multiple extensions Pittsburgh offered him at 14+ million for the next 3 years and the 4 year extension they offered him last year at over 12 million a season.  Both deals would have made him the highest paid RB in the league at that time.

 

He wanted more - he wants to be paid as a high end WR at over 16+ million. 

 

The Steelers are notorious for not giving multiple years of guarantees to non-QB players. So I imagine the issue with Bell and the Steelers was not over AAV but more so with guaranteed money. They were reportedly offering an AAV right around 15 per so to me it seems more like a case of wanting a bigger guarantee.

[mannc]

7 hours ago, apuszczalowski said:

No way he fits here, doesnt fit the type of guys they want here. The player doesnt have to be a choir boy, but they want guys who love football and want to play the game, not someone who is willing to throw away a season because they want more then the top 5 guys at their position.

They don’t want a guy who’s good for 1300 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving?  I mean, I think people are underestimating what Bell brings to the table.

11 hours ago, BillsVet said:

I'd make the move to add him...if this were fantasy football which is what I believe prompts observations like this. 

 

From a resource allocation perspective I wouldn't consider sinking so much into the RB position.  The positional value, even for a currently top level back, is not sufficient to warrant the investment.

But this is a guy who is really good in pass protection and will get you 700 yards receiving, on top of at least 1200 yards rushing—exactly the kind of safety blanket JA needs.

[BillsVet]

19 minutes ago, mannc said:

They don’t want a guy who’s good for 1300 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving?  I mean, I think people are underestimating what Bell brings to the table.

But this is a guy who is really good in pass protection and will get you 700 yards receiving, on top of at least 1200 yards rushing—exactly the kind of safety blanket JA needs.

 

To me it's better to invest in WR's and OL than the RB to support Allen.  It's a nice to have thing that Bell would give them some offensive production, but still not worth the cost.  

 

I don't assume that even with huge cap space the Bills are going to be in on UFAs like some believe.  If they are, it'll take a premium and that cap space will dwindle quickly.  Spending 15M+ a season on a RB seems like a poor investment. 

[Bing Bong]

4 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

It do rollover.

 

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2018/2/23/17045734/browns-carry-over-58-9-million-in-unused-cap-space-from-2017-to-2018-league-year

Into 2020's cap??? That like.. defeats the purpose of a salary cap. I ain't arguing but I find that weird. I knew 2018 or 2019 was supposed increase the cap leaguewide but if you can rollover to kingdom come you can just buy every FA in sight in a good year and sign all your talent into long term deals...

 

There's gotta be a catch or mitigator.

Edited November 27, 2018 by PetermanThrew5Picks

[longtimebillsfan]

He could have 3 or 4 strong seasons left, but I believe the Bills will draft a running back in 2019 and spend money on free agents to fill higher needs.  If we strengthen our online, that should upgrade our running attack without bringing in a high priced player like Bell.

 

He would be a nice addition, but to me that move does not seem to be practical.

[Rochesterfan]

6 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

 

The Steelers are notorious for not giving multiple years of guarantees to non-QB players. So I imagine the issue with Bell and the Steelers was not over AAV but more so with guaranteed money. They were reportedly offering an AAV right around 15 per so to me it seems more like a case of wanting a bigger guarantee.

 

I don’t disagree, but that is also one of the reasons the Steelers have stayed out of Cap Jail.  They have very few Dareus situations where you give that big contract with guarantees up front and the players then no longer play to their maximum.  They give guarantees, but you earn them each year.

 

Bell is a notoriously dangerous guy to give huge money to upfront.  He has already been suspended multiple times for drugs - so you have that issue and you have a super talented o-line that once again this year with Conners proved it is more about them than Bell.

 

I understand Bell thinking he is worth it and I get the Steelers saying we will give it to you, but you have to earn it each year.  

 

I think that  whoever overpays for Bell in the off-season - assuming he even becomes free- will get a guy that returns to normal RB status and the will be greatly overpaying for actual production.  The one exception might be Indy if they can keep the line getting better - he may be able to produce there and make an AAV of 15 million work, but Buffalo, NYJ, Cleveland, etc - he will not be worth it.

[Tcali]

23 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

Let's say we finish 8-8, Allen plays great to finish the season. Buffalo looks like a team that is going to compete for a long time. We would suddenly become an attractive destination for many FAs. We also have a ton of cap space to work with and our offense lacks a playmaker. Why not Bell? Give him what he wants, Buffalo now has the best RB in the NFL. Build that OL in the draft and free agency. Buffalo adds a guy that regularly puts up 2,000 all purpose yards a season. Hopefully Zay and Foster continue to develop alongside Allen and I  could definitely see us making a playoff push. Bell gets a 4 year deal, his contract would be up around the same time Josh Allen's is, so no conflict there. Definitely think offense would not be a problem anymore.

take away the money factor and yes he is a perfect fit. but a RB cant get great DE or QB money.

[Mr. WEO]

9 hours ago, Buffalo03 said:

I was thinking about having both with a better receiving core as well. If we can get a legit receiver and have both that would be crazy. That's what I was referring to. I wasn't referring to having only 2 big play RBs

 

 

Having 2 expensive RBs is not a value proposition.  It's a bad way to spend cap.    There would be few plays where both would be in there together. 

 

Draft a RB who can catch out of the backfield or from the slot.  Get better WRs.  Much better way to build the offense.

[OrtonHearsaWho]

8 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

To me it's better to invest in WR's and OL than the RB to support Allen.  It's a nice to have thing that Bell would give them some offensive production, but still not worth the cost.  

 

I don't assume that even with huge cap space the Bills are going to be in on UFAs like some believe.  If they are, it'll take a premium and that cap space will dwindle quickly.  Spending 15M+ a season on a RB seems like a poor investment. 

 

I would definitely prefer that too but the free agent pickings are very, very slim at OL and WR.

[The Now Moment]

11 hours ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

We need to spend money. We have 90 million. Would you rather go into the season with 17M going nowhere (it don't rollover) or have it go to Bell to do friggin punt returns at the very least.. why the heck not. Hoarding cap salary isn't smart unless it's timed for upcoming major re-signing moves.

 

And he's 26 going on 27 lol

The age was for McCoy...and 17 million can go a LONG way to filling a lot of holes for this team.  His fit is not right for the team IMO.  Did I say anything about hoarding cap?  He's not the type of team first chemistry player for this team IMO.  Plus, you better be getting 3 offensive lineman or 17 million invested in a running back would be a waste.  

[FeelingOnYouboty]

Great player but paying big money for a RB is never smart strategy.