LeVeon Bell: What better fit for him than Buffalo?

[Saxum]

On 11/26/2018 at 9:34 AM, NewDayBills said:

Bell is better than Gurley. Bell is like Thurman Thomas.

Very much so.  Good blocker, receiver and runner.  Complete RB.

[formerlyofCtown]

On 11/26/2018 at 8:13 AM, 26CornerBlitz said:

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

The Colts agreed, maybe the Packers but the Jets are further behind in the rebuild than we are IMO.  We are going into year 3 of our HC and DC and Year 2 with our OC.  They are starting fresh.  Allen is a RBs best friend as a QB.  We fix the OL and we are the better destination.  Until the Jets replace their GM they are on the same coarse to nowhere that they have been on.

[T master]

Dude wants QB money & that ain't gonna happen sure he is good just ask him how good he is he will tell you in $$ signs .

 

That would be one of those contracts that would come back to bite you which is the contracts that Bean has tried & successfully done away with the only thing this guy cares about is the money he has no loyalties only to the all mighty $ ...

 

No Thanks !! 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

On 11/26/2018 at 8:11 AM, 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.

My preference is to build an OL with veterans like G Spain, G Saffold, C Paradise, T Williams. I'm not a fan of drafting 2-3 OL and learn on the fly while they get our QB killed. Now that doesn't mean we can't pick up vets and still draft OL but we already have a young LT in Dawkins and G in Teller, I'd prefer FA pickups for the line just my opinion though but I'd still be a fan of Bell here too.

[Big Turk]

Just no.  You don't pay top dollar for RB's in this league anymore when you can get pro bowl type production from UDFA's.

[mannc]

17 hours ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

With an upgraded O-Line and the fact that teams need to take Allen into account running the football, Bell could have a huge season in Buffalo running the football.

And catching the ball, too...

[MAJBobby]

On 11/26/2018 at 8:11 AM, 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.

 

No thank you. Not paying a RB 14M a year. 

[Ol Dirty B]

On 11/26/2018 at 8:43 AM, Rc2catch said:

For the money he wants, and taking a year off it would be a hard pass for me. Don’t see any reason why buffalo needs him. Shadys dancing for 2 yard losses is getting annoying and ivory looks much better as far as just get the 3 yards. I would rather run ivory Murphy and maybe a Tarik Cohen kinda receiving rookie next year than waste 15+ million on bell. He’s a me first player, and while I agree Pittsburgh did him kinda dirty I’m just not a big fan of what he brings. 

 

So you dont want a WR, and you want to have Murphy and ivory be the only veterans on the team.

 

Are you adverse to talent at skill positions?

 

I'm not saying go get Bell, but your posts read like you are happy with the skill positions. Which are just as bad as the Oline.

[TheFunPolice]

To me, a "big name RB" is always hurt by the time the playoffs start due to workload. Look at Todd Gurley, who now we find out WAS in fact hurt come playoff time (as if that was a mystery).

 

Not worth it. Too much riding on one guy at a position where they take a beating.

 

Only way it works is to have a couple similar guys who can split time so that you don't run the guy into the ground in week 1-8. Hard to see that with Bell's salary demands.

 

Now, if you told me the Bills would have Bell and Shady both, and use both, then maybe. Bell might go for it too, because he has mentioned being over-utilized in the past.

 

Still, I think that you can draft a RB in the 3rd or 4th round and get close to the same production on a fairly regular basis.

Edited February 20, 2019 by TheFunPolice

[aceman_16]

Him on the Colts would be a super fit.

[Rc2catch]

1 hour ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

So you dont want a WR, and you want to have Murphy and ivory be the only veterans on the team.

 

Are you adverse to talent at skill positions?

 

I'm not saying go get Bell, but your posts read like you are happy with the skill positions. Which are just as bad as the Oline.

Just because I don’t want some of the big names here doesn’t mean I want to roll out the same roster from last season. 

Bell and brown from Pittsburgh specifically I would never want on any team I cheer for. 

Its just my philosophy but you don’t pay for elite talent, you draft it and retain it after they’ve proven themselves. Free agents are meant for depth and possible comeback stories like Lorax. Running back is by far the easiest spot to fill on the team. And they have 3 currently. If the line was better I would be more than happy to trot shady, ivory, Murphy and a rookie out there. With the hopes of course that the rookie outshines them all by mid season and soaks up a large portion of the touches. 

 

[mannc]

1 hour ago, MAJBobby said:

 

No thank you. Not paying a RB 14M a year. 

Don’t disagree, but i don’t think that’s ultimately what Bell will cost.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

1 hour ago, aceman_16 said:

Him on the Colts would be a super fit.

 

 

...think that's where he said he wanted to go......needs to catch Irsay at a weak moment....should be a piece of cake then...........

[CaptnCoke11]

1 hour ago, Rc2catch said:

Just because I don’t want some of the big names here doesn’t mean I want to roll out the same roster from last season. 

Bell and brown from Pittsburgh specifically I would never want on any team I cheer for. 

Its just my philosophy but you don’t pay for elite talent, you draft it and retain it after they’ve proven themselves. Free agents are meant for depth and possible comeback stories like Lorax. Running back is by far the easiest spot to fill on the team. And they have 3 currently. If the line was better I would be more than happy to trot shady, ivory, Murphy and a rookie out there. With the hopes of course that the rookie outshines them all by mid season and soaks up a large portion of the touches. 

 

I bet you’d have a Brown or Bell jersey if one was signed 

[Alphadawg7]

3 hours ago, Rc2catch said:

Just because I don’t want some of the big names here doesn’t mean I want to roll out the same roster from last season. 

Bell and brown from Pittsburgh specifically I would never want on any team I cheer for. 

Its just my philosophy but you don’t pay for elite talent, you draft it and retain it after they’ve proven themselves. Free agents are meant for depth and possible comeback stories like Lorax. Running back is by far the easiest spot to fill on the team. And they have 3 currently. If the line was better I would be more than happy to trot shady, ivory, Murphy and a rookie out there. With the hopes of course that the rookie outshines them all by mid season and soaks up a large portion of the touches. 

 

 

That may be your philosophy but its not an accurate one across the NFL.  Pretty sure Pats don't win SB without Gilmore this year, he was a big $ FA they signed. I can look around the league at great teams and former SB champions and see all kinds of elite talent free agent signings that contributed to their success.  

 

Now, spending big in FA certainly is no guarantee of success, and you are right that the draft is very much key to building long sustainable success.  However to just disregard FA as if its a mistake to sign high end talent is unnecessary.  We have a ton of cap room, so we can easily afford to make one big signing for instance in FA, still sign some other quality players and then draft well.  It doesn't have to be one or the other.  

 

That being said, I don't disagree that $14m is too much for a RB, even one as talented as Bell.  But I cant honestly say "I don't want him" or Brown with a straight face.  If we somehow wound up with Brown and Bell I would shed tears of excitement.  Do I think that will happen, not at all. Do I think we get one or the other, not really.  But, I certainly wouldn't hate seeing either (or both) on this team next year if Beane shocked us all and went that direction.  

 

Personally, I do not expect to sign a RB in FA but do expect us to take on one in 3rd or 4th round given the depth or the RB class to bring some youth into the RB room.  So I doubt will be in on Bell, but then again, they were reportedly sniffing around Hunt too, so wouldn't be a total surprise if we hear of Bills interest in Bell.    

 

PS:  Saying "RB is easiest to fill" is nice to say, but that doesn't mean its actually "easy".  If 5 dogs poop next to each other, you can say that one dogs poop smells the best.  Doesn't mean it actually smells good just because it smells less worse than the others.  So while finding a good RB may be easier than some positions, it doesn't also mean its "easy" to find said RB.  For every 5th round gem found there are dozens of draft busts.  The bust rate for RB's isnt much better than other positions, so its not just super easy to find a good RB.  Ask teams like the Lions, Giants, Colts, Packers, etc who struggled for years to find a consistent run game.  

[Rc2catch]

2 hours ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

I bet you’d have a Brown or Bell jersey if one was signed 

I would bet you’d be dead wrong there. But it was a decent attempt at being humorous. 

 

12 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

That may be your philosophy but its not an accurate one across the NFL.  Pretty sure Pats don't win SB without Gilmore this year, he was a big $ FA they signed. I can look around the league at great teams and former SB champions and see all kinds of elite talent free agent signings that contributed to their success.  

 

Now, spending big in FA certainly is no guarantee of success, and you are right that the draft is very much key to building long sustainable success.  However to just disregard FA as if its a mistake to sign high end talent is unnecessary.  We have a ton of cap room, so we can easily afford to make one big signing for instance in FA, still sign some other quality players and then draft well.  It doesn't have to be one or the other.  

 

That being said, I don't disagree that $14m is too much for a RB, even one as talented as Bell.  But I cant honestly say "I don't want him" or Brown with a straight face.  If we somehow wound up with Brown and Bell I would shed tears of excitement.  Do I think that will happen, not at all. Do I think we get one or the other, not really.  But, I certainly wouldn't hate seeing either (or both) on this team next year if Beane shocked us all and went that direction.  

 

Personally, I do not expect to sign a RB in FA but do expect us to take on one in 3rd or 4th round given the depth or the RB class to bring some youth into the RB room.  So I doubt will be in on Bell, but then again, they were reportedly sniffing around Hunt too, so wouldn't be a total surprise if we hear of Bills interest in Bell.    

 

PS:  Saying "RB is easiest to fill" is nice to say, but that doesn't mean its actually "easy".  If 5 dogs poop next to each other, you can say that one dogs poop smells the best.  Doesn't mean it actually smells good just because it smells less worse than the others.  So while finding a good RB may be easier than some positions, it doesn't also mean its "easy" to find said RB.  For every 5th round gem found there are dozens of draft busts.  The bust rate for RB's isnt much better than other positions, so its not just super easy to find a good RB.  Ask teams like the Lions, Giants, Colts, Packers, etc who struggled for years to find a consistent run game.  

Adding an elite level player to an established team like the pats or super bowl contender  is one thing. Adding players with huge egos and negative media stories to a young unestablished team is another. Maybe I shouldn’t of classified all free agents but it was meant for Pittsburgh’s castoffs. 

 

As for the running backs I stated I’d be fine running the 3 we have in shady ivory and Murphy with a rookie mixed in hoping he’d take the full time job. It all depends on the offensive line and if they add enough talent to it. 

[BillsSB2020]

5 hours ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

So you dont want a WR, and you want to have Murphy and ivory be the only veterans on the team.

 

Are you adverse to talent at skill positions?

 

I'm not saying go get Bell, but your posts read like you are happy with the skill positions. Which are just as bad as the Oline.

We don't need no stinkin stars! I'm also not enamored with the idea of signing Bell, but I think we have to bite the bullet and acquire some top tier talent with a less than perfect background if we're gonna compete with the big boys.

[Alphadawg7]

18 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

I would bet you’d be dead wrong there. But it was a decent attempt at being humorous. 

 

Adding an elite level player to an established team like the pats or super bowl contender  is one thing. Adding players with huge egos and negative media stories to a young unestablished team is another. Maybe I shouldn’t of classified all free agents but it was meant for Pittsburgh’s castoffs. 

 

As for the running backs I stated I’d be fine running the 3 we have in shady ivory and Murphy with a rookie mixed in hoping he’d take the full time job. It all depends on the offensive line and if they add enough talent to it. 

 

Bell wasn't a bad teammate though, he held out over a contract, but he wasn't an issue in the locker room that I can recall hearing about.  This is Bells last big contract, I don't blame him for wanting to get paid as much as he can in one his last chances to earn good money from football.  RB's have short shelf lives, its more important for them to make as much as they can as quick as they can.  

 

No one gets upset with owners and GM's who break contracts and cut players when they no longer serve the same purpose, so I don't get why people get jaded when a player fights to maximize their earnings given football is a sport that is leaving some players physically ruined for life.  I know a guy who played LB for San Diego and ended his career in NFL Europe league.  He is in his 40's and still takes him 20 min every morning to figure out where he is when he wakes up.  Football is violent, so players who lay their health on the line shouldnt be mislabeled for trying to earn what they can.  The owners make WAY more money off of football than players do, and owners sure as hell do what they can to earn as much as possible themselves.

 

Brown certainly has done himself no favors lately, but he also has been fine most of his career and the issues stem mostly from the last year on and off the field.  Tomlin handled it terribly too where it escalated.  I do think he has more risk in terms of the locker room, but honestly I think he would be fine here and McD can manage his personality.  That being said, I still think neither Bell or Brown is coming to Buffalo.  '

 

Bell will be a Colt, Raider, or Jet IMO.  And I think Brown will be a Raider, 49er, Packer, Cardinal, or Jet.  

Edited February 21, 2019 by Alphadawg7

[Rc2catch]

25 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Bell wasn't a bad teammate though, he held out over a contract, but he wasn't an issue in the locker room that I can recall hearing about.  This is Bells last big contract, I don't blame him for wanting to get paid as much as he can in one his last chances to earn good money from football.  RB's have short shelf lives, its more important for them to make as much as they can as quick as they can.  

 

No one gets upset with owners and GM's who break contracts and cut players when they no longer serve the same purpose, so I don't get why people get jaded when a player fights to maximize their earnings given football is a sport that is leaving some players physically ruined for life.  I know a guy who played LB for San Diego and ended his career in NFL Europe league.  He is in his 40's and still takes him 20 min every morning to figure out where he is when he wakes up.  Football is violent, so players who lay their health on the line shouldnt be mislabeled for trying to earn what they can.  The owners make WAY more money off of football than players do, and owners sure as hell do what they can to earn as much as possible themselves.

 

Brown certainly has done himself no favors lately, but he also has been fine most of his career and the issues stem mostly from the last year on and off the field.  Tomlin handled it terribly too where it escalated.  I do think he has more risk in terms of the locker room, but honestly I think he would be fine here and McD can manage his personality.  That being said, I still think neither Bell or Brown is coming to Buffalo.  '

 

Bell will be a Colt, Raider, or Jet IMO.  And I think Brown will be a Raider, 49er, Packer, Cardinal, or Jet.  

I fully agree bell deserves to get paid, and I was on his side for a lot of the issues with the Steelers. It was a huge risk to play on the franchise tag, he could of lost giant money if he was injured really bad and lost out on this fat contract he’s about to get. I just don’t want the bills to give it to him. No matter who signs him it’s going to be 24/7 news all season. Was he worth the money? Is he out of shape? Etc etc etc... Not the headlines I wanna see our team put through. I like flying under the radar lol.. just not as far under as we’ve been for 20 years. Bell deserves this contract. Brown deserves a new team and quarterback to prove he’s as good without Big Ben 

[Alphadawg7]

1 minute ago, Rc2catch said:

I fully agree bell deserves to get paid, and I was on his side for a lot of the issues with the Steelers. It was a huge risk to play on the franchise tag, he could of lost giant money if he was injured really bad and lost out on this fat contract he’s about to get. I just don’t want the bills to give it to him. No matter who signs him it’s going to be 24/7 news all season. Was he worth the money? Is he out of shape? Etc etc etc... Not the headlines I wanna see our team put through. I like flying under the radar lol.. just not as far under as we’ve been for 20 years. Bell deserves this contract. Brown deserves a new team and quarterback to prove he’s as good without Big Ben 

 

I am with you preferring not to sign him, so get that and agree.  However, I just was commenting on the negative picture of him as a person you were conveying with previous comments that aren't really fair.  Fair to apply them to Brown given his off field issues and social media antics, but was just defending Bells character a bit as I thought it was getting misclassified with Browns unfairly.  

 

I actually don't think he will be much of a distraction if he was signed by Buffalo.  Its a good spot for him, small market, good locker room, ascending team.  But like you said I don't really want to pay him what he will fetch either.  

 

But like I said, if Beane surprised and signed him, I would be pretty excited because he is an excellent player.  I mean its not like I have to pay his salary hehe