CJ Spiller vs. Jairus Byrd: The Fork In The Road
Dec 22, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Philip Wheeler (52) looks to make a tackle on Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) as he runs the ball during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
As the Buffalo Bills prepare for their final game of the season, this young team finds themselves at a crossroads. Contract negotiations, free agency, and the NFL draft, are just a taste of what an organization goes through each offseason in preparation for the next season. That being said, the Buffalo Bills are at a crossroads with a handful of players this year; none more important than Jairus Byrd and CJ Spiller. To be honest, Byrd is worth the $40 million, but CJ Spiller has not performed well enough in the past three years from an investment standpoint. Spiller is still a player of worth and it would be wise to cut loose ends by trading him for an early draft pick. The only question we can ask right now is what are the Buffalo Bills going to do to become better?
CJ Spiller would be a valuable player on a better team in need of a dynamic speed back; He could be a huge upgrade for the running games of teams such as San Diego, Denver, and Cleveland. Spiller’s worth as compared to the money he will demand when he becomes a free agent is simply not good enough for the Buffalo Bills franchise to invest in. CJ Spiller is unable to carry the work load of a franchise back and he still has trouble at the line of scrimmage. Although he will not be a free agent untill 2015, the impact of CJ Spiller has been average at best. The running game of the Buffalo Bills performed well this year but with no passing attack, it was shut down easily. Don’t forget that when the Bills last had two 1,000 yard receivers, they had the average running game of Travis Henry and went 8-8, much better than the past few season with CJ Spiller in the backfield.
Jairus Byrd, on the other hand, has shown potential and performed well this season, making his case that he is worth the $40 million he demands. It is also worth mentioning that with the leadership of Byrd, the secondary of the Buffalo Bills was ranked in the top 5 in the NFL in interceptions. With an offense that struggled this season, it stands to reason that something needs to change offensively. People have questioned the performance of the quarterback position this season but as a veteran, CJ Spiller has not done enough to be worth the investment of two more seasons, waiting for him to be a consistent impact player.
Where do you think the Buffalo Bills go from here?