Archives for March 2015

'Alonso, who was the Bills' second-round pick in 2013, spent the 2014 season on injured reserve with a torn ACL. He was named as the PFWA defensive rookie of the year after piling up 159 tackles in his first season in the league.'

'The Bills contacted Spiller after the trade to thank him for his time in Buffalo. Once the Bills acquired McCoy, who has a similar running style to Spiller but has been a far more productive back during his career, keeping Spiller in the fold didn't make sense.'

'Within minutes, NFL Network and ESPN were breaking down the trade while seemingly everyone on Twitter had an opinion. The players still on the Bills' roster had quite the reactions to losing a star defensive player and gaining another superstar on offense.'

'"Once Kyle took over, he (saw) how Kyle did it and it kind of helped him," Spiller said. "He does tremendous work. He comes to work every day prepares, unbelievable, he's in the first, leaving late, last one to leave. So he has all that stuff. It was just that 'buddy-buddy.' You know how it is. You come in with some guys and you really don't want to step on any toes. But as the quarterback you have to do that."'

'The NFLPA announced the cap figures for every team in the NFL Monday, and the Buffalo Bills' number is $145,781,930. The official NFL salary cap for 2015 is $143.28 million, but the Bills rolled over a little more than $2 million from last year. This all means that the Bills will end up with a little over $27 million in cap space, according to the NFLPA.'

'The odds appear greater than not that Alonso will turn out to be a perennial elite middle linebacker for the Eagles. McCoy might be closing in fast on the dreaded running-back wall.'

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<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_Eagles_have_deal_in_place_to_send_LeSean_McCoy_to_Bills.html" target="_blank">Eagles have deal in place to send LeSean McCoy to Bills</a> (Philadelphia Inquirer)<br />

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_Eagles__many_moves_are_strictly_business_decisions.html" target="_blank">Eagles' many moves are strictly business decisions</a> (Philadelphia Inquirer)<br />

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_Chip_Kelly_draws_a_crowd_but_says_nothing_about_moves.html" target="_blank">Chip Kelly draws a crowd but says nothing about moves</a> (Philadelphia Inquirer)<br />

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_Chip_lets_his_moves_do_the_talking.html" target="_blank">Chip lets his moves do the talking</a> (Philadelphia Daily News)<br />

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_Williams_does_not_deserve_such_disdain_from_Eagles_fans.html" target="_blank">Eagles' big moves free up some big bucks to chase big free agents</a> (Philadelphia Daily News)<br />

<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150304_What_if_Chip_wants_to_build_a_defense_.html" target="_blank">What if Chip wants to build a defense?</a> (Philadelphia Daily News)<br />

<a href="http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/sports/eagles-have-deal-in-place-to-trade-lesean-mccoy/article_c4853dfa-02ad-5d20-99ed-8b498cb5f69a.html" target="_blank">Eagles have deal in place to trade LeSean McCoy</a> (Burlington County Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20150303/kelly-ready-to-deal-mccoy-to-bills-for-linebacker-kiki-alonso" target="_blank">Kelly ready to deal McCoy to Bills for linebacker Kiki Alonso</a> (Delaware County Daily Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20150303/bob-grotz-chips-strategy-is-clearly-clearing-cap-space" target="_blank">Chip’s strategy is clearly clearing cap space</a> (Delaware County Daily Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2015/03/03/reports-say-eagles-trade-mccoy-bills-linebacker/24346367/" target="_blank">Reports say Eagles trade McCoy for Bills linebacker</a> (Wilmington News Journal)<br />

<a href="http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/eagles/mc-eagles-mccoy-0303-20150303-column.html" target="_blank">Eagles on verge of extreme makeover with McCoy trade</a> (Allentown Morning Call)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/lesean_mccoy_trade_could_pay_off_big_time_for_eagl.html" target="_blank">Why the LeSean McCoy trade could pay off big time for Eagles</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/did_the_eagles_get_far_value_for_lesean_mccoy_in_b.html" target="_blank">Did Eagles get fair value for LeSean McCoy in Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso?</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/jeffrey_lurie_shows_complete_confidence_in_chip_ke.html" target="_blank">Jeffrey Lurie shows complete confidence in Chip Kelly by allowing him to jettison DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/cj_spillers_message_to_eagles_chip_kelly_call_me.html" target="_blank">C.J. Spiller's message to Eagles, Chip Kelly: Call me!</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/eagles_trade_lesean_mccoy_release_cary_williams_an.html" target="_blank">Making sense of the LeSean McCoy trade and the Eagles' whirlwind moves</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/will_lesean_mccoy_block_a_trade_to_buffalo_bills.html" target="_blank">Will Eagles' LeSean McCoy try to block trade to Buffalo Bills for Kiko Alonso?</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/eagles_blockbuster_trade_what_you_need_to_know_abo.html" target="_blank">Eagles' blockbuster trade: What you need to know about LeSean McCoy deal for Kiko Alonso</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/eagles_chip_kelly_wont_confirm_or_deny_trade_of_le.html" target="_blank">Eagles' Chip Kelly won't confirm or deny trade of LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/eagles_options_at_running_back_with_lesean_mccoy_g.html" target="_blank">Eagles options at running back with LeSean McCoy gone</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/what_you_need_to_know_about_kiko_alonso.html" target="_blank">What you need to know about linebacker Kiko Alonso, the newest Eagle</a> (South Jersey Times)<br />

<a href="http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/eagles/eagles-trade-mccoy-release-williams-and-will-cut-cole/article_9638ef3a-c1cd-11e4-9f25-133e2e8adb26.html" target="_blank">Eagles trade McCoy, release Williams and will cut Cole</a> (Press of Atlantic City)<br />

<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/philadelphia_eagles_running_ba_3.html" target="_blank">Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy traded to Buffalo: report</a> (Harrisburg Patriot News)<br />

<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/lesean_mccoy_gives_rex_ryan_bu.html" target="_blank">LeSean McCoy gives Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills a brash and versatile weapon</a> (Harrisburg Patriot News)<br />

<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/lesean_mccoy_trade_requires_ea.html" target="_blank">LeSean McCoy trade requires Eagles fans to trust in Kelly and the system, just as the players do</a> (Harrisburg Patriot News)<br />

<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/lesean_mccoy_trade_news_crushe.html" target="_blank">Was trading LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso the right move?</a> (Harrisburg Patriot News)<br />

<a href="http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/source-eagles-trade-lesean-mccoy-buffalo-bills-linebacker-kiko-alonso" target="_blank">Source: Eagles to trade LeSean McCoy to Bills for LB Kiko Alonso</a> (CSN Philadelphia)<br />

<a href="http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/700-level/lesean-mccoy-or-not-good-deal-good-deal" target="_blank">Like LeSean McCoy or not, a good deal is a good deal</a> (CSN Philadelphia)<br />

<a href="http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/700-level/darren-sproles-other-eagles-react-shady-mccoy-trade" target="_blank">Darren Sproles, other Eagles react to Shady McCoy trade</a> (CSN Philadelphia)<br />

'Ryan is famous for his preferred style of offense — “ground and pound” — and must be thrilled to get such an offensive weapon. McCoy’s play-making abilities should be especially useful considering the Bills have a horrendous situation at quarterback with EJ Manuel as their top signal caller. McCoy, 26, has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in three of the last four seasons.'

'The trade definitely had the look of a salary dump by Philadelphia, with McCoy scheduled to make $24.25 million over the next three seasons while Alonso — still working on his rookie contract — is set to earn just $1.7 million over the next two years.'

'The trade also opens a hole for the Bills at linebacker. While there will be other options for the team, new coach Rex Ryan undoubtedly will be interested in pursuing free agent David Harris of the Jets.'

'Consider: David Harris and C.J. Spiller.'

'Running backs are also among the most fungible players in any sport. They have been devalued in recent seasons — last year, no running backs were taken in the first 50 picks of the draft. It is not prudent for a team to carry a running back — any running back — making McCoy’s $10.2 million, more than seven percent of the salary cap for one player at a position that is inherently replaceable and health-averse.'

'In Buffalo, new Bills Coach Rex Ryan can try to go back to his once-successful formula with the New York Jets and attempt to win with a running game and an overpowering defense. The Buffalo defense was superb last season even without Alonso. Now Ryan gets a centerpiece runner to go with that defense. That’s fortunate for him, since the other thing that has followed him from his previous job to this one is quarterback woes. The Bills have EJ Manuel and, well, basically no one at this point, having tried but failed to sign Josh McCown.'

'Ryan is brash and aggressive in all walks of life. A week shy of free agency, he might have realized the Bills didn't have enough to sway Revis' opinion if the star cornerback does reach free agency, and today's trade might have been a last-ditch effort to swing for the fences with the goal of a reunion.'

'Brackenridge native Carlton Chester “Cookie” Gilchrist was part of a decision to boycott an American Football League All-Star Game in New Orleans in 1965.'