C.J. Spiller - Pro Football Rumors

East Notes: Jets, Bills, Spiller, McClain, Giants

August 13th, 2014 at 9:46pm CST by Zachary Links

There’s no quarterback controversy in Cortland, New York, and that makes the Jets rather happy, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Guard Willie Colon admitted that the Geno Smith–Mark Sanchez talk made things “tense” for Gang Green last season, but Michael Vick has helped the club avoid that tension by declaring that he’s only there to be the backup to Smith. “Mike is a leader and a motivator, and he supports Geno,” Colon said. “Geno understands he’s the guy. We all believe in him.” More from the AFC and NFC East..

Bills GM Doug Whaley shot down speculation of running back C.J. Spiller being on the trade block but, then again, he took a similar tone regarding trade rumors surrounding wide receiver Steve Johnson after last season, writes Tim Graham of The Buffalo News. When asked about a possible Johnson trade at the wrap-up conference, Whaley said he was “amazed” and “taken aback by the question.” The wide receiver was traded in May.
An educated source once involved in the Bills sales process tells Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (on Twitter) that the team is “[Terry] Pegula‘s to lose” and Bon Jovi group is “unfocused and disorganized.” That same source says the Bills will be in Western New York “for a very, very long time whether they get a new stadium or not” (link).
Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain says that he’s over the animosity that once existed between him and Raiders coach Dennis Allen, writes David Moore of the Dallas News. “We’re both grown men,’’ said McClain, who hopes to push Justin Durant for the starting job at middle linebacker in Dallas. “At the end of the day, things get hot. But, I mean, we’re both grown men and we respect each other.”
Safety Antrel Rolle likes the look of the Giants‘ rebuilt secondary, which includes newcomers Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday. “I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen thus far,” Rolle said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of areas to clean up and fine-tune, cut down on a lot of penalties, especially in the defensive backfield. But overall, I think we’ve been doing a great job of keeping a team out of the end zone, which is always our No. 1 priority. So far, so good.”

AFC East Notes: Spiller, Bills, Pats, Dolphins

August 13th, 2014 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

After the Bills gave up a draft pick to acquire Bryce Brown from the Eagles, then signed Fred Jackson to a contract extension, there has been some speculation this offseason that C.J. Spiller could be on the trade block. But if that’s the case, he either isn’t drawing much interest or Buffalo GM Doug Whaley isn’t interested in acknowledging that interest. Whaley today told reporters, including ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (Twitter link), that the Bills haven’t been contacted by any teams regarding Spiller, so it doesn’t sound like the 27-year-old is going anywhere anytime soon.

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

Although it’s not clear if he submitted a bid and remains involved in the Bills sale process, Raiders minority stakeholder David Abrams initially expressed interest and signed a non-disclosure agreement with the franchise, reports Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
It had been six weeks since any NFL teams had made a trade, but the Patriots agreed to two swaps yesterday, adding a defensive lineman in both deals. Jeremy Gottlieb of the Boston Globe takes a look at the refurnishing job the Pats’ interior defensive line is undergoing.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald breaks down some of the key position battles taking place at Dolphins training camp.

Bills Rumors: Sale, Spiller, Linebackers

July 26th, 2014 at 5:44pm CST by Luke Adams

“The legend of Sammy Watkins is growing by the day,” writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com in his dispatch from Bills training camp, suggesting that no one in the organization is regretting giving up its 2015 first-round pick in order to land the wide receiver this May. The man who pulled the trigger on that trade, GM Doug Whaley, had nothing but praise for the rookie wideout.

“Sammy is as advertised, and actually even better than advertised because of everything he does off field,” Whaley said. “His preparation, his want to be the best, his professionalism. He is wise beyond his years.”

While Watkins has been the star of Buffalo’s camp so far, La Canfora provides several other nuggets of note, so let’s dive in and round those up….

Based on La Canfora’s conversations with people who have knowledge of the Bills’ sale process, he’d be surprised if the finalists aren’t Sabres owner Terry Pegula and the Jon Bon Jovi/Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment/Rogers Communications group.
Still, there are believed to be 16 approved parties seeking to purchase the franchise, and those groups must submit a letter of intent by next week if they intend to remain in the mix, says La Canfora. That letter wouldn’t include a formal bid, but it would feature some approximate figures involved in a possible purchase price. The Wilson trust will narrow the field during August and eventually decide on two or three finalists. Ideally, the trust will present the winning bidder to the NFL finance committee ahead of its September 11 meeting, in time for owners to vote on the sale at the October league meeting.
Sources tell La Canfora that many within the Bills organization hope that Pegula purchases the team, particularly since the odds are greater that the football operations and business-side management would remain intact in that scenario.
La Canfora expects the Bills to field trade inquiries on running backs as injuries pile up around the league (Vick Ballard and Kendall Hunter are already out for the season). In La Canfora’s view, a trade market for C.J. Spiller could materialize over the next few weeks, with Spiller entering the final year of his contract with no extension imminent. In the event of a deal, Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown, and Anthony Dixon would carry the load in Buffalo’s backfield.
According to Whaley, the team doesn’t plan to pursue any outside free agents to fill the void at linebacker following Kiko Alonso‘s season-ending injury. The club is confident with in-house options like Keith Rivers and rookie Preston Brown.

AFC Notes: Titans, Bortles, Bills, Raiders

July 8th, 2014 at 1:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Chris Johnson has never rushed for fewer than 1,047 yards in an NFL season, but with his cap number on the rise and the price of running backs around the league on the decline, the Titans decided to release him this offseason. As the new Jets running back tells Brian Costello of the New York Post, Tennessee’s decision will provide plenty of incentive for him to succeed in 2014 and beyond.

“Of course I have a chip on my shoulder,” Johnson said. “It gives me more motivation to continue to work hard and come here and be that guy I’ve been my whole career. I want to prove [the Titans] wrong. They released me and I want to let them know they made a mistake.”

Here’s more from around the AFC, including a couple items related to Johnson’s old team:

In a piece for the Tennessean, Jim Wyatt surveys the Titans‘ landscape at wide receiver, and looks specifically at the odds of journeyman Derek Hagan cracking the regular season roster. Like fellow Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky, Wyatt suggests it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tennessee add another receiver to the roster in August or even September.
No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles is on board with the decision to sit in his rookie season, with Chad Henne starting at quarterback for the Jaguars. However, as he tells NFL Media’s Bryan Fischer, Bortles will be ready if he’s called upon earlier than expected.
The Bills will have some decisions to make soon on their running backs, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, who says he thinks Buffalo wants Bryce Brown to develop into one of the team’s lead backs. If that’s the case, the futures of C.J. Spiller or Fred Jackson, who are both eligible for free agency in 2015, figure to be up in the air.
After an offseason which saw the Raiders add several veteran free agents, including some with championship experience, cornerback Taiwan Jones believes there’s a different feeling in Oakland heading into this season, according to Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com.

Bills Acquire Bryce Brown From Eagles

May 10th, 2014 at 1:14pm CST by Luke Adams

1:14pm: The pick the Eagles received from the Bills could become a third-rounder in 2016 only if Johnson meets his conditions that would defer the pick to 2016, and then Brown also meets his conditions, reports Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Sports Radio (via Twitter).

12:22pm: The Eagles have confirmed the trade (via Twitter) and provided more details. In exchange for Brown, the Birds will receive either a 2015 fourth-rounder or a 2016 third- or fourth-rounder. Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out (via Twitter) the condition is tied into Stevie Johnson’s performance in San Francisco because he was acquired from Buffalo for a conditional fourth-rounder.

Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the trade is simply a depth move, and Jackson’s job is safe (via Twitter).

11:49am: The Eagles have traded a player for a draft pick, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, who reports (via Twitter) that running Bryce Brown will be sent to the Bills. Philadelphia acquires a future pick in the deal, per Mosher.

Brown became expendable following the addition of Darren Sproles. In Buffalo, Brown will provide depth behind C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, both of whom are entering the final year of their deals.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Abram, Dolphins, Pats

May 2nd, 2014 at 11:08am CST by Luke Adams

A number of investors and groups have already expressed some interest in purchasing the Bills, and John Wawrow of The Associated Press adds another name to that ever-growing list. According to Wawrow, two people familiar with discussions confirmed that New York City developer Howard Milstein has interest in purchasing the franchise and keeping it in western New York.

Milstein perhaps wouldn’t be the strongest candidate among the list of prospective buyers, since he has a spotty history in sports ownership. Wawrow writes that Milstein’s previous ownership of the NHL’s New York Islanders was “filled with controversy” and adds that the developer previously tried to purchase the Redskins, but withdrew his bid after he failed to get support from a majority of NFL owners. Both of those incidents happened over a decade ago, however, so it remains to be seen how significantly they’d impact a potential run at the Bills now.

Here’s more from around the AFC East:

ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak doesn’t think the Bills should part with their 2015 first-rounder to move up in this year’s draft, since that pick should be earmarked for a quarterback.
Running back has been a position of strength for the Bills in recent years, but both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are entering contract years, meaning the team will have to plan ahead for 2015 and beyond. Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News examines the situation, and talks to Spiller about approaching free agency.
The Dolphins and Patriots are among the teams that have worked out Florida State fullback Chad Abram, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. According to Wilson, Abram, a “versatile fullback and a bruising lead blocker,” has also has workouts with the Falcons and Chiefs.
A source tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the Dolphins sent linebackers coach Mark Duffner to Louisville earlier this week to work out Preston Brown, who has piqued the team’s interest. Within Jackson’s piece, he also passes along several tidbits from draft guru Mike Mayock that relate to the Dolphins.

Extra Points: Coleman, Ingram, Costa, Spiller

April 22nd, 2014 at 4:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Kurt Coleman, who signed with the Vikings on a one-year, $900K contract that doesn’t include any guaranteed money, says he turned down offers featuring guaranteed money from two other teams, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. According to the 25-year-old safety, both the Colts and Jets offered some guaranteed money, though he didn’t specify how much. One of those two clubs also offered a higher salary than the $900K he got from Minnesota, Coleman tells Tomasson.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

Saints running back Mark Ingram hasn’t heard from the club one way or the other on whether his 2015 option will be picked up, as Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune outlines. “I’m not sure if they will pick up the fifth-year option,” Ingram said. “I’m just working one day at a time and I’m just glad I’m on a team that’s a championship contender.”
Phil Costa, who unexpectedly retired this week after signing with the Colts last month, issued a statement this morning through his agent, explaining his decision (link via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News). According to Costa, the “day-to-day physical rigor” of the NFL has taken a toll on his body, and contributed to his decision. Although Costa’s deal included $450K in guaranteed money, the Colts won’t be on the hook for that money, according to Mike Chapell of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link), who says the agreement included default language.
In an informative piece at OverTheCap.com, Jason Fitzgerald explains how workout bonuses function, and provides a breakdown of the team-by-team amounts for those bonuses this year.
C.J. Spiller, who is eligible for free agency in 2015, spoke to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com about his upcoming contract year, suggesting he’ll talk to former teammates Jairus Byrd about the process. Spiller, who will have to hire an agent before any negotiations begin with the Bills, indicated he’d be open to a long-term deal to remain in Buffalo.
Baylor cornerback Demitri Goodson should come off the board a little higher than expected in next month’s draft, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, tweeting that the third or fourth round sounds about right for Goodson.
Kyle Williams‘ minimum salary benefit contract from the Chiefs includes a $10K workout bonus and will count for $580K against the team’s camp, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Eagles Inquired On Spiller Before Acquiring Sproles

April 14th, 2014 at 11:56am CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles added a dynamic playmaker to their offense when they acquired running back Darren Sproles last month in a trade with the Saints. However, prior to landing Sproles, the team looked into trading for a younger back, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Mosher reports that the Eagles contacted the Bills in the hopes of trading for running back C.J. Spiller. However, Buffalo wasn’t interested in moving Spiller, so Philadelphia never made a formal offer.

Mosher’s report isn’t exactly groundbreaking, since it’s not as if the Bills are shopping Spiller — the Eagles asked and Buffalo essentially shot them down. Still, it shows that Philadelphia didn’t simply trade for Sproles because the opportunity fell into the team’s lap. Sproles became available relatively cheaply when it seemed as if New Orleans was leaning toward releasing him, but even before then, the Eagles were exploring ways to add playmakers to their offense.

Sproles, 30, is a better receiver than Spiller, having caught more passes in the last two seasons (146) than Spiller has in his entire four-year NFL career (139). However, Spiller, who turns 27 in August, is the more dangerous runner, having accumulated 2,177 yards on the ground on just 409 carries over the last two seasons — good for an average of 5.3 yards per carry.

As Sproles prepares to make his debut in Philadelphia, Spiller is set to split the Bills’ backfield workload with Fred Jackson again in 2014. Spiller, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season, is owed a base salary of about $3.5MM in 2014 and $2.2MM in 2015.