Nyheim Hines will not be a cap casualty for FA (Edit: Wrong)

[BillsFanForever19]

Among most, if not all, posts talking about freeing up cap space - Nyheim Hines being released is mentioned. 

 

And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer type of move. But it appears it's not going to happen.

 

I've touched on this in other posts a bit before but there's factors at play here. When the injury occured, his agent started speaking up about filing a grievance if he wasn't taken care of. Then it all went away.

 

Beane and he came to an agreement. Hines would keep a portion of his money and not be released and in turn, most of his money for last season would come off the books - freeing up some cap space for last year and Hines and his people wouldn't file a grievance.

 

I've been almost positive part of that agreement was he wouldn't be cut and given every opportunity to reclaim his job. Hines has said that he's going to be a Bill this year:

 

Quote

“They treated me right at the end of the day and they took care of it and I’m a member of the Buffalo Bills and I look forward to coming back there next year and earning the right to win.”

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/news/buffalo-bills-nyheim-hines-injury-rehab-jet-ski-accident

 

Yesterday at Beane's Year End Presser - he confirmed it. Nyheim Hines will not be an offseason cap casualty:

 

Quote

Beane: Nyheim is still, he had that surgery (in) early August, so he's still working on his rehab and I don't have a timeline to say (when) he's going to be cleared. But, ya know, I would see him being cleared by Training Camp. I'm not a doctor and I haven't gotten that clarity but just knowing when he did it - I don't know what his participation will be like in OTA's yet.

 

Sal: But you would see him as part of the team going forward?

 

Beane: Yes

 

(56:49 - 57:22)

 

I'm not a capologist, so I don't know if there's any massaging that can be done to his contract to create some relief somewhere. But it's pretty clear that unless he is completely physically unable to perform, Nyheim Hines will be one of our RB's behind James Cook.

Edited March 4 by BillsFanForever19

[Alphadawg7]

Its one thing to bring him back, its another thing to survive cuts end of preseason.  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

If he’s healthy he fills 3 positions for the Bills. 3rd down RB, punt and kick returner.

 

I could see him reducing his base salary.

[John from Riverside]

Just don’t lose Ty Johnson

[Matt_In_NH]

Are you saying he was guaranteed a roster spot in 24 or guaranteed a chance to earn that?

[BillsFanForever19]

4 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its one thing to bring him back, its another thing to survive cuts end of preseason.  

 

This is true. They could still cut him after Pre-Season if he's lost a step or is flat out beaten out.

 

But he won't be a cap casualty during the FA process, as many have expected.

[thenorthremembers]

He should be.  If he's released they save 5 million against the cap.  He only has a 500k dead cap hit if released.

[BillsFanForever19]

2 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

Are you saying he was guaranteed a roster spot in 24 or guaranteed a chance to earn that?

 

A chance to earn it. Which I think unless he's lost a step, he most likely will.

[JMM]

4 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Just don’t lose Ty Johnson

I really liked him this year! I think he's a perfect change of pace back to go with Cook.  Please keep him Beane 

[BillsFanForever19]

5 hours ago, thenorthremembers said:

He should be.  If he's released they save 5 million against the cap.  He only has a 500k dead cap hit if released.

 

In a vacuum, given our cap situation, yes. But if he was told he'll be coming to Camp in exchange for not filing a grievance and saving us some cap space last year - Beane can't go back on his word. That would be terrible for his reputation amongst the locker room and FA's going forward.

Edited January 25 by BillsFanForever19

[HomeskillitMoorman]

3 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

In a vacuum, giving our cap situation, yes. But if he was told he'll be coming to Camp in exchange for not filing a grievance and saving us some cap space last year - Beane can't go back on his word. That would be terrible for his reputation amongst the locker room and FA's going forward.

 

They were really all-in on this year, this wouldn't surprise me

[Success]

Hines is talented.  He, Johnson & Cook sounds good to me.

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Overrated player coming off ACL injury. I'm not sure he would even made the team healthy last year, let alone next year coming off an ACL. Goodbye.

They have 10 draft picks. they can use one of them on a very late round, running back or sign a street free agent that can do just as much as Hines can do for far less money.

Edited January 24 by Ethan in Cleveland

[Buffalo_Stampede]

7 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

He should be.  If he's released they save 5 million against the cap.  He only has a 500k dead cap hit if released.

He’s 3 roster players though. I think he returns at a lower base salary.

[Matt_In_NH]

7 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

A chance to earn it. Which I think unless he's lost a step, he most likely will.

ACL?

[Aussie Joe]

1 minute ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Overrated player coming off ACL injury. I'm not sure he would even made the team healthy last year, let alone next year coming off an ACL. Goodbye.

He was ok on special teams when they bought him in midway through 2022 … we dont know how he would go on O because they never gave him a chance …just another player they didn’t trust because he “hadn’t learnt the system “..

[Xwnyer]

Hopefully our OC a would figure out how to utilize him in the offense.

[Big Turk]

15 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

He was ok on special teams when they bought him in midway through 2022 … we dont know how he would go on O because they never gave him a chance …just another player they didn’t trust because he “hadn’t learnt the system “..

 

Yes...just OK. Those 2 kickoff returns for TDs are just regular plays the Bills make on a week in week out basis.

[BillsFanForever19]

14 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Overrated player coming off ACL injury. I'm not sure he would even made the team healthy last year, let alone next year coming off an ACL. Goodbye.

They have 10 draft picks. they can use one of them on a very late round, running back or sign a street free agent that can do just as much as Hines can do for far less money.

 

That may or may not be true. But it doesn't change the fact that he will not be told "goodbye".

 

And he absolutely would have made the squad last year. We wouldn't have signed Damien Harris or Latavius Murray if he were on the roster.

 

We gave up a pick and a player for him and said before the injury he was being brought on slow in 2022 because he was just learning the playbook and that they had big plans for him.

 

Perhaps he'll take a pay cut or there's a way they can restructure it to create space. But pre injury, he was one of the better pass catching RB's in the league and a top returner with rare speed for a RB. Those are valued traits you can't just find anywhere.

[Aussie Joe]

21 minutes ago, Xwnyer said:

Hopefully our OC a would figure out how to utilize him in the offense.

He had to deal exclusively with Dorsey .. who seemed to have some trust issues  as witnessed since his departure 

19 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Yes...just OK. Those 2 kickoff returns for TDs are just regular plays the Bills make on a week in week out basis.

I would definitely have him back returning kicks and punts if he is back to that 2022 form 

[Man with No Name]

difficult to have any confidence in his ability to return to form last year. we have seen with both von and Tre that they are not back to their best after 12 months. Von looked a lot better against the chiefs, but he was useless for most of the season, and probably still only 80 to 90% now. and this is something like 14 months post injury. Tre took somewhere between 15-20 months to get IT back. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

The he BETTER be taking a massive salary cut or taking phantom years on that deal

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I know i.m rambling like a crazy person but it's insane to me that our 3rd running back coming off an ACL would be the best paid guy in the room when that's the difference between keeping Floyd or Epenesa or Daquan. Not saying they can't do some but it seems like the dumbest waste of resources 

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, Success said:

Hines is talented.  He, Johnson & Cook sounds good to me.

 

I can tolerate Hines as our return man and RB3 but it's gotta come on a lesser cap hit or whatever was negotiated.

[PBF81]

They'd be crazy to get rid of a phenominal receiving RB like Hines.  

 

We need someone with great skills to not get involved in our offense.  If not him, then who.  

 

 

[EasternOHBillsFan]

7 minutes ago, PBF81 said:

They'd be crazy to get rid of a phenominal receiving RB like Hines.  

 

We need someone with great skills to not get involved in our offense.  If not him, then who.  

 

Ty Johnson!!! He caught every ball in which he was targeted except for one game. He has that spark we need and must be retained.

 

I feel like we don't need Hines to start the season and go through another Von Miller-like saga... let's hope we can find the right return specialist as a Plan B if he suffers from a lack of production in the preseason.

Edited January 25 by EasternOHBillsFan

[BillsFanForever19]

28 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

Ty Johnson!!! He caught every ball in which he was targeted except for one game. He has that spark we need and must be retained.

 

I feel like we don't need Hines to start the season and go through another Von Miller-like saga... let's hope we can find the right return specialist as a Plan B if he suffers from a lack of production in the preseason.

 

I think Ty Johnson will be back. He'll probably want to be back and it won't cost much for a journeyman vet RB. No one's going to make him their starter or break the bank for a 2nd or 3rd RB.

 

Basically it will be Hines replacing Latavius Murray. If he struggles throughout Camp and the Pre-Season and shows he's lost a step, than he may not make the 53. But he'll be here at Camp regardless.

 

45 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I know i.m rambling like a crazy person but it's insane to me that our 3rd running back coming off an ACL would be the best paid guy in the room when that's the difference between keeping Floyd or Epenesa or Daquan. Not saying they can't do some but it seems like the dumbest waste of resources 

 

Yeah, but without the deal they made with him last season - there's a player we would have missed out on then.

 

Obviously part of that deal was he wouldn't be cut before this season and he'd be given a real chance to make the roster this year. 

 

They decided they'd rather save some money last year than this year. Just is what it is. Now he has to stick to his word or risk losing faith with players in their locker room and potential FA's down the road.

 

And as others have said, I'd doubt he'll have that full hit. He'll probably take a pay cut or have his deal restructured in a way to save us some space.

[BillsFanForever19]

Another thing showing he's not going anywhere is Spotrac. He isn't listed as a player that has a simple Out in his contract like other players.

 

Today they posted ways to save money. Hines was not listed among them. Which I take as them knowing it's not as simple as just cutting him and saving a full $5 million.

 

 

[NewEra]

This is terrible for our roster.  Cook, Ty and a bruiser is ideal.  If we lose Ty or a bruiser because we keep him for 5M -💩 

[BillsFanForever19]

8 minutes ago, NewEra said:

This is terrible for our roster.  Cook, Ty and a bruiser is ideal.  If we lose Ty or a bruiser because we keep him for 5M -💩 

 

I'd doubt we'll lose Ty. He's not going to cost much of anything and he'll be motivated to stay. I don't see a huge market for an RB2/3.

 

And I'd imagine we're still going to have a Bruiser. Last season we started the year with Cook, Harris, Murray, and Johnson on the 53. Hines will replace Murray and they'll have someone else to replace Harris's role. Probably a late round pick.

 

As I and others have said, I'm sure that numbers going to come down somehow. But it just is what it is. He took his medicine last season, we were able to save some Cap for last year to get some help then. We take a little bit of medicine this year.

 

He can't go back on his word and it's clear from yesterday's presser, he's not going to.

Edited January 25 by BillsFanForever19

[PBF81]

51 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

Ty Johnson!!! He caught every ball in which he was targeted except for one game. He has that spark we need and must be retained.

 

I feel like we don't need Hines to start the season and go through another Von Miller-like saga... let's hope we can find the right return specialist as a Plan B if he suffers from a lack of production in the preseason.

 

Yeah, I was just joking though.   

 

 

[NewEra]

15 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'd doubt we'll lose Ty. He's not going to cost much of anything and he'll be motivated to stay. I don't see a huge market for an RB2/3.

 

And I'd imagine we're still going to have a Bruiser. Last season we started the year with Cook, Harris, Murray, and Johnson on the 53. Hines will replace Murray and they'll have someone else to replace Harris's role. Probably a late round pick.

 

As I and others have said, I'm sure that numbers going to come down somehow. But it just is what it is. He took his medicine last season, we were able to save some Cap for last year to get some help then. We take a little bit of medicine this year.

 

He can't go back on his word and it's clear from yesterday's presser, he's not going to.

Yeah- Beane is a man of his word- but he’s a waste of a roster spot. 

[SCBills]

It seems like Nyheim Hines and Deonte Harty are two luxuries for we can’t really afford to have both of, but we shall see. 

[BillsFanForever19]

38 minutes ago, SCBills said:

It seems like Nyheim Hines and Deonte Harty are two luxuries for we can’t really afford to have both of, but we shall see. 

 

Harty's most likely done. He's got an out in his contract, probably by design. A 1 year trial that didn't work out. Thankful for the Kick Return in the Miami game, but that alone doesn't save him. And with Hines staying, he'll be the Returner anyways (as he was supposed to be last year).

[NoSaint]

3 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

people are scared about the $5m… he cut that number last year BEFORE his injury … so he won’t be getting that in 2024… think about halving that which works for kick and punt return, and being an RB contributor provided he has fully recovered from his injury … if he cant demonstrate that in the preseason games then he is gone ..

 

well, that’s his 2024 number as of today. 
 

this thread would be far more successful declaring he won’t be a cap casualty if he cuts his pay than declaring the bills have guaranteed him a spot 

 

I do think in reframing him though- had he been healthy it would’ve been really interesting to see Brady use him. The colts had him spending real time in the wr room. Now picture some of the totes we’ve seen from cook since the change in OC. That we never got a chance to see him used like that is a bummer. 
 

i guess maybe 2024 happens but a lot has to come together 

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

That may or may not be true. But it doesn't change the fact that he will not be told "goodbye".

 

And he absolutely would have made the squad last year. We wouldn't have signed Damien Harris or Latavius Murray if he were on the roster.

 

We gave up a pick and a player for him and said before the injury he was being brought on slow in 2022 because he was just learning the playbook and that they had big plans for him.

 

Perhaps he'll take a pay cut or there's a way they can restructure it to create space. But pre injury, he was one of the better pass catching RB's in the league and a top returner with rare speed for a RB. Those are valued traits you can't just find anywhere.

 

Where/when was this guy "a top returner"?  He had 2 decent years catching the ball.  He's a dime a dozen ST'er. Where's the value?

[BillsFanForever19]

24 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Where/when was this guy "a top returner"?  He had 2 decent years catching the ball.  He's a dime a dozen ST'er. Where's the value?

 

Dime a dozen? The guy had two returns for a TD in the same game. How many times have you seen that?

 

You can argue your opinion of his value all you want. That's not the point of the post. The point is he's not getting cut before the final cutdown. And unless he shows he's lost a step or is clearly beat out, probably won't be cut at all.

Edited January 25 by BillsFanForever19

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

Yeah- Beane is a man of his word- but he’s a waste of a roster spot. 

 

We'll see. If he's the same player he was in Indianapolis and hasn't lost a step - this is absolutely incorrect.

[MWK]

Spending 5m on a recieving back coming off an ACL tear just shows how much we are spinning our wheels. That money could go to a meaningful upgrade, but nope, let’s use it on Hines. Running backs are dime a dozen, we signed Johnson off the scrap heap and he was productive. There is truly no hope with these complacent people in charge.

Edited January 25 by MWK

[Nephilim17]

5 hours ago, thenorthremembers said:

He should be.  If he's released they save 5 million against the cap.  He only has a 500k dead cap hit if released.

Wanted to check this and yes, his salary hit is $5,480,000 with just $500,000 dead if cut.

I can't see how a backup RB — even if he returns kicks — can make this money.

Edited January 25 by Nephilim17