LeVeon Bell: What better fit for him than Buffalo?

[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.