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I think Thomas had a wonderful season, and should finally get the respect and props he deserves. Over 1,300 yards rushing (9th in the league) ain't too shabby for the boy from BSG. Still, I think they will try and hoo doo him with Cedric Benson next year. What you'll think?
Well I think Jones likes it in Chicago, and he will more than likely be the starter next season unless the Bears try to deal him. Though Benson and Peterson seem more than capable in sharing the load for the Bears, I dont think the Bears deal TJ just yet unless they get a first day pick. Thats unlikey, however I did see today where the Pats are looking for a starting running back because they have no faith in Dillion(plus hes overpaid).
Maybe Jones ends up there, who knows. As much as Id like to see him stay in Chicago, it just looks like the Bears have a lot of potenial im AP and CB. Though they arent complaining about having a 1300 yard back who only makes 2 million a season.
I hear what your saying, but I don't understand the bears and their draft picks. A.P. could have shared the load with Jones. Angelo needed a wideout to go with the "moose", but he chose to go in a bad direction I think. Jones was over 50% percent of their offense the previous year, which wasn't much of an offense and is still an offense that has problems.
They did draft a wide out and he turned out to be a stud, but he tore his acl real early in the season.
Peterson showed no signs of being a really good running back coming into the season, Jones showed no signs that he could carry a full load for 16 games either. They drafted Benson for his durability and production, thats pretty obvious. All 3 are good, but the truth is, all 3 got to run behind a pretty solid offensive line this year.
Its hard to fault Jerry Angelo for anything anymore, he had a few draft picks that didnt turn out, but he has drafted nearly everyone on the defense and has them 20 million under the salary cap going into next season.
actually he accounted for 40% of their offence
i think Thomas is alot better overall than Benson... maybe if they was to put Benson at FB, it'd be a awesome backfield, but i don't see that happening
Its hard to really tell, Benson did average 4.2 yards this season but the thing is he is such a bruising runner. Thomas doesnt have that extra gear to take it to the house either so in reality, they are comparable. TJ just happens to be alot cheaper.
Right, and who doesnt like something that does the job for cheaper?
The real question is, what teams give a bench warmer 17 million in signing bonuses to sit the bench....Say TJ stays as the starter in chicago 2 more years, there is likely no chance that he will be resigned because he will demand the same type of money that Benson gets.
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The real question is, what teams give a bench warmer 17 million in signing bonuses to sit the bench
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San Diego does, lol! Has Phillip Rivers even started again.
i hope they dont decide to let thomas go in the near future
He is a career-journeyman.
Not because of his talent or effort, just being constantly on the wrong end of a situation.
Hearl's right there.. I hope Thomas does go to a team like the Pats, or Indy..
Honestly though, I dont care if the guy has Reggie Bush type talent. You dont draft a running back in the top 5 in the NFL, you end up giving them wayyyy more money then they are worth.
Look at the Chiefs, they got the best running back in their draft a few years ago when they drafted Larry Johnson(mid to late first rounder). Even though he sit the bench his first season, the difference from getting picked 4th, to getting picked 21st is ole say about 4 million a year. Dont think the Chiefs are complaining.
Productive running backs are a dime a dozen in the NFL, and running backs take to much of a beating when they are carrying the full load. Im sure we could come up with more than half of the starting running backs in the NFL who were not first round picks.
Reggie Bush might be the exception though this year, because he brings more to the table then just carrying the football. Last year's draft was supposbly weak, and 3 of the top 5 picks were running backs. Whether or not those guys turn out to be worth their salary is another story. If I was a GM and you gave me the number 1 pick, Id trade down every year and try to rape some team out of a huge amount of picks. Saves money, and who knows you might get two or three more solid players and maybe one less multi million dollar bust.
The thing everyone is missing is, Chicago could just as well get rid of Jones and Benson and still have a guy that can get 1100+ yards. Peterson is one of the most underrated backs in football, not to mention he was the all time leading rusher in college football history at one time and makes close to the league minimum.
You cant say that Caddy and Ronnie Brown werent good picks though. That makes alot more sense than drafting Aaron Rodgers. The rest of the backs this year have been real trashy, Marion Barber doesnt really show potential, Arrington was garbage, Gore had way too many question marks and still doesnt carry the full load. Fason isnt very good. Last year, Benson, Brown, and Caddy were head over heals better than any of the other running backs in the draft. Mike Williams was too slow to be the answer for Chicago and Braylon Edwards was already taken, plus he would have had the stigma of following in David Terrells footsteps. Picking who they picked, really the only pick better for them would have been Caddy. Looking back, Antrel Rolle would have been the best pick, but we all knew how bad Chicago was on offense.
Well lets see
Thomas Jones #7
Jamal Lewis #5
Caddy #5
Walter Payton #4
Gale Sayers #4
Shaun Alexander #19
Emmitt Smith #17(Blair Thomas #2)
Edgerrin James #4
Ricky Williams #5
Ronnie Brown #2
McGahee #23, would be top 5 without the injury
Ladanian Tomlinson #5
Fred Taylor #9
Eddie George #14
Marshall Faulk #2
Jerome Bettis #10
Barry Sanders #3
Keith Byers #10
Eric Dickerson #2
Marcus Allen #10
Wow you just turned down half the hall of fame to draft Willie Parker, Clinton Portis, and Corey Dillion. I think I'll pass and draft the running back high. Not everyone has an offensive line like the chiefs and broncos. Its alot easier to draft a top notch running back and get great production behind a good line, than draft a dime a dozen running back and develop a line that is GREAT to make a player like Larry Johnson or Priest Holmes look great.
Im not saying the Brown, Caddy, or Benson arent good, or they dont have the potenial to be great, because they all do. Im just sayin the top of last years draft wasnt all that great overall, any other year 2 of those running backs would have dropped down and out of the top 15. So in reality, it could have been Benson, Brown, or Caddy that could have been a steal for some team in the mid to late first round or even early second. We have seen good running backs fall that low every other year before that. Much like the season when Larry Johnson was the first running back taken, by the Chiefs in the mid to late first round. Not in all honestly I cant remember which draft, or how strong of a draft that was. Im just saying that if you want "true" value out of what your gonna be paying a guy then you dont wanna draft a running back in the top 5. Definely not Top 3 unless they are just a freak.
You must have read that wrong, I was talking about runing backs that were starters presently in the NFL. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
By that logic we might as well bring up every first round bust at running back as well as the HOF'ers to get a good comparison.
I didnt say there wernt first round busts, but that has more to do with poor evaluation than just taking a running back. To be honest, when I went through the list, there were very very few busts out of the top 15 picks or so. Most of those busts were career injury type guys like Kijana Carter and Curtis Enis. Taking a running back high is almost a guarantee at getting a guy thats going to turn out to be at the least "solid" like Thomas Jones but more times than not, these guys turn out to be stars.
It just appears there is a better chance of getting a great running back high in the draft than there is in rounds 2nd-7th. Its one of the easist positions to evaluate, wheras the ratio to busts among quarterbacks and recievers is alot higher.
We all know that when a running back is taken lower, it usually happens to turn out that team needs dictate that a running back be chosen lower. How many teams go into a draft and need so much more than just a running back. Almost every team has a running back. In that respect, you are right, they are a dime a dozen. But without a monster line, those dime a dozen running backs are never going to have the production of most of the guys listed above, all of whom were taken high in the draft.
Again though, if im a GM im not looking for a superstar running back that you have to pay 6 million dollars or more a year for. Thats not how you build a solid team, id much rather have a 1200 yard back im paying 2 million a year for than a 1600 yard back that im paying 5 or 6 million or more per season.
Sure its great for the fans to have a superstar running back on your football team, but if your gonna want a solid well rounded team Id like to put more money into other positions. Maybe I didnt clarify that before. Im just saying value wise its better to have a guys whos productive that you dont have to cash strap your team for than it is to have your superstar running back whos hurting the cap, and is one ACL injury away from ending your hopes for that season.
It still just depends what your team needs are though and what the depth is of other positions in the draft. You cant tell me that Mike Williams/JJ Arrington would have been a better choice than Benson/Bradley. The latter choices are better on both occassions. Now the Bears may have drafted the wrong running back, but considering Jones never made it through a full season and Peterson was a lifetime backup, there was not any proof to say, dont draft a running back. Just like with the chargers, they had all but given up on Drew Brees(though they could have had Rothlesburger or Manning). Brees turns out to be great and they are stuck with Rivers.
Its a tough situation for both teams, but at the same time, Chicago is still 17 million under the cap, it doesnt really matter that Benson eats up some cap space not to mention he is probably the best backup running back in the league. Its sort of important that they have 3 good running backs considering they are a running team.
Im not really even talking about Chicago's situation from last season though. Im just saying in general that I wouldnt draft a running back in the top 5. Trust me im not Benson hating or anything, I told you before last years draft that I felt Benson was the best of the backs in the draft. I still believe that, I just hope character issues dont get in the way of that for him. Hes got the skills thats for sure.
Again though, Im just saying in general that if you want a well rounded team that you dont put very much money in your starting running back position.
Quick, name all of the first round starting running backs that were drafted since the beginning of the salary cap era to lead or at least start for his team in a super bowl victory. Ummmmmm Marhsall Faulk maybe, which did it for a team that he wasnt even drafted by? Who else? Lewis's rookie year with the Ravens? Anymore?
With the pick they had 4th, they could have gotten more than Bradely for a wideout. He's good, but not that good. All I'm saying is how about a little love for the guy. Hell, he's from our area and that doesn't happen hardly ever. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]
Bradley is better than Mike Williams, Troy Williamson, Roddy White,and as good if not better than Mark Clayton. His upside and potential is that of a pro bowl reciever. His run after catch ability and ability to get off the line of scrimmage are some of the most impressive abilities in the nfl and Im not even being biased. Mark Bradley will be a star if his knee injury doesnt hamper him.
Braylon Edwards looked great before he tore his acl, he was the best reciever in the draft without a doubt.
Diets, almost every team that has won the superbowl in the salary cap era had a star quarterback. You mentioned Faulk and Lewis, Eddie George was 1 yard away, and DeShaun Foster was a kick away too. This year Alexander and Bettis both have a good chance to win. I'll agree that Quarterbacks are alot more important that running backs in the playoffs, but generally speaking, teams that have star running backs are usually teams that are good year in year out. I understand what your saying, but I just feel that your formula for success is only right about half the time. When the new collective bargaining agreement gets worked out, rookie running backs arent going to make half of what they are making now because there is going to be a rookie cap, would you draft a running back high with a rookie cap?
Yep, if there was a cap and it was a need though again if I think I can get someone just as good in the next round id pass. Though if it was someone with exceptional skills then Id definely take him at the top of the draft if its something I need and not gonna kill me cap wise.
But you realize that it was all a plot to draft Benson in the first so they could sign Owens this offseason. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img](schitzophrenia is setting in for me if they pull that trigger as being reported)
haha.. I sorta think it would be a long term mistake for the Bears to sign Terrel Owens. Though right now, he would improve the offense. Though do you get rid of Musin? Or keep him for another year?
He didnt even make the top 10 free agents signings for SI. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
Keep both of em. With 17 mill under the cap and little of it devoted to draft picks this year(picking 26th) they can afford Owens and resign Briggs next year. Owens wouldnt get any better than a 2 year deal unless they just want to spread out the signing bonus. Keep in mind, they will get Haynes 3 million off the books soon and TJ probably wont be resigned if he keeps getting 1300 yards unless Benson is traded.