Potential FA RBs

[Silver N Blue]

Another potential RB that is actually a FA. He definitely has some interest on the board.

Chiefs waived RB Cyrus Gray.
The Chiefs used a 2012 sixth-round pick on Gray. He appeared in 35 games the past three seasons, mainly on special teams. He's rushed for 99 career yards and one touchdown on 24 carries as the No. 3 back. Gray suffered a torn ACL in November and is now healthy enough where the Chiefs could cut him. Jul 29 - 11:51 AM

 

[Silver N Blue]

Stash your going to like reading this. Ball and Hillman look to be on the bubble.

Second-year RB Juwan Thompson is reportedly challenging for the Broncos' No. 2 running back job.

Thompson averaged 5.0 yards on 54 carries as an undrafted rookie out of Duke last season, scoring three touchdowns. He's reportedly putting heat on Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman behind C.J. Anderson. "Forty (Thompson's number) looked unbelievable today," coach Gary Kubiak said after Saturday's practice. "He's built for what we do." It's time to add Thompson in all Dynasty leagues and put him on the re-draft sleeper radar.
Source: 9 News Denver
Aug 1 - 9:48 PM

 

[jrumann59]

Good point I would be a little shocked if they gave up on Ball though.

Ball is that 3rd year thing and he would really have to show out to stay in my opinion, IE challenge for a starting job otherwise if the other guys are just as "good" no point in keeping him around except for his draft status.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Glad the Boys past on this guy....

he Miami Herald calls rookie RB Jay Ajayi "a bit of a disappointment so far."

The physical Ajayi should look better once the serious hitting gets going at camp. It's also possible his head is simply swimming right now as he goes through his first real NFL practices. But for now, it sounds like the Dolphins are seeing why Ajayi was still available in the fifth round of the draft. Meanwhile, the coaching staff is talking up an increased workload for Lamar Miller.

 

[Silver N Blue]

ESPN Cleveland "keep(s) hearing" Terrance West is on "thin ice because of maturity issues."

West's poor practice habits and inconsistent ball security led him into the coaches' doghouse repeatedly as a rookie. Then the team went out and spent a third-round pick on Duke Johnson while also talking up Isaiah Crowell. ESPN Cleveland added that West looks "chunky" early on in training camp.

 

[Future]

I'm debating folks elsewhere if they would trade Escobar for him straight up and results are mixed. What's your opinion?

For Ball?

Hellllll no. Ball sucks, Esco plays a valuable role, whether it's a big one or not.

 

[big dog cowboy]

ESPN Cleveland "keep(s) hearing" Terrance West is on "thin ice because of maturity issues."

West's poor practice habits and inconsistent ball security led him into the coaches' doghouse repeatedly as a rookie. Then the team went out and spent a third-round pick on Duke Johnson while also talking up Isaiah Crowell. ESPN Cleveland added that West looks "chunky" early on in training camp.

I saw a couple of Cleveland games last year and their entire RB situation is a mess. Since I follow fantasy stuff pretty close I could tell that before watching. I was desperate and West was 'hot' at the time and about a month later I moved on.

 

[erod]

If this year is like most, only one or two rookies will make any waves at all.

Every draft, you'd think there were 15 Walter Paytons coming out. Then, nothing.

What Dallas has is better than pretty much everything that will get released. There may be a chance for a trade with a team that is running back heavy that needs a backup offensive linemen or something.

 

[Stash]

For Ball?

Hellllll no. Ball sucks, Esco plays a valuable role, whether it's a big one or not.

Gavin Escobar, TE: Escobar is entering his third season and has done little in his career thus far. That’s not always been his fault; he just hasn’t received many opportunities. But the former second-round pick hasn’t stood out. So far in training camp, he continues to hide in the background – making outsiders wonder if he will ever make an impact with the Cowboys.

Yeah, sure says "valuable role" to me.

 

[erod]

Gavin Escobar, TE: Escobar is entering his third season and has done little in his career thus far. That’s not always been his fault; he just hasn’t received many opportunities. But the former second-round pick hasn’t stood out. So far in training camp, he continues to hide in the background – making outsiders wonder if he will ever make an impact with the Cowboys.

Yeah, sure says "valuable role" to me.

Escobar is very valuable, and I think that increases this year. The dude catches touchdowns, including six in only 18 career catches. He's got great hands and he can get up high. The Cowboys will use that more and more.

When you run the ball as much as Dallas, and you have Dez and Witten and Beasley and Williams and short throws out of the backfield, it just doesn't leave much for the second tight end.

This year, I think he gets as many balls his way as Beasley and Williams. He will arrive this season.

 

[Stash]

Escobar is very valuable, and I think that increases this year. The dude catches touchdowns, including six in only 18 career catches. He's got great hands and he can get up high. The Cowboys will use that more and more.

When you run the ball as much as Dallas, and you have Dez and Witten and Beasley and Williams and short throws out of the backfield, it just doesn't leave much for the second tight end.

This year, I think he gets as many balls his way as Beasley and Williams. He will arrive this season.

I will respectfully but totally disagree. I'd be willing to bet my house that Escobar comes nowhere close to seeing the passes that Beasley will.

And the fact that the Cowboys are a running team also works against a guy who has never been and never will be anything more than serviceable as a blocker. Witten, Hanna, and even likely Swaim are better blocking options. And while Escobar is a great pass catcher, the Cowboys simply don't use him enough in that role for him to have real value.

If trading him away means I add another answer to the question at running back, I would do it and not think twice about it. I would prefer to trade Hanna entering the last year of his deal, but if the Broncos wanted Escobar for Ball, I would make that deal.

 

[erod]

I will respectfully but totally disagree. I'd be willing to bet my house that Escobar comes nowhere close to seeing the passes that Beasley will.

And the fact that the Cowboys are a running team also works against a guy who has never been and never will be anything more than serviceable as a blocker. Witten, Hanna, and even likely Swaim are better blocking options. And while Escobar is a great pass catcher, the Cowboys simply don't use him enough in that role for him to have real value.

If trading him away means I add another answer to the question at running back, I would do it and not think twice about it. I would prefer to trade Hanna entering the last year of his deal, but if the Broncos wanted Escobar for Ball, I would make that deal.

You don't have to catch a pass to make an impact. Teams know he's a favorite red zone target of Romo's and it frees up other people.

There's simply only one ball. If you only throw 24 times a game, that doesn't leave much for Escobar and Hanna. But that doesn't mean he isn't impactful.

Alvin Harper got very few balls his way for a starting receiver, but he still make an impact.

 

[Stash]

You don't have to catch a pass to make an impact. Teams know he's a favorite red zone target of Romo's and it frees up other people.

No denying that. But if you're carrying the ball 20 times, you're making a much bigger impact.

There's simply only one ball. If you only throw 24 times a game, that doesn't leave much for Escobar and Hanna. But that doesn't mean he isn't impactful.

That's right. And it once again shows why it's a mistake to spend a 2nd round draft pick on a player who will ultimately have a niche role.

Alvin Harper got very few balls his way for a starting receiver, but he still make an impact.

Apples to oranges a bit, but I know what you're saying.

But, again, I'll say that I feel that Ball could help the running game - and by extension the entire team - more than Escobar could in his limited role.[/quote][/quote]

 

[Future]

Gavin Escobar, TE: Escobar is entering his third season and has done little in his career thus far. That’s not always been his fault; he just hasn’t received many opportunities. But the former second-round pick hasn’t stood out. So far in training camp, he continues to hide in the background – making outsiders wonder if he will ever make an impact with the Cowboys.

Yeah, sure says "valuable role" to me.

Montee Ball would be valuable because....?

And just b/c Babe or whoever said that doesn't really make your case.

 

[Stash]

Montee Ball would be valuable because....?

Because he has the talent and ability to possibly be this team's #1 tailback. He's an accomplished college runner who was set to become the clear starter in Denver last year until his season was derailed by injury. And now he's competing for the starting role in arguably the league's most stacked running back group.

And just b/c Babe or whoever said that doesn't really make your case.

I can bring up plenty of other quotes and comments if you'd like. This isn't the first one, nor will it be the last. 18 catches over two years says a lot too.

 

[Future]

Because he has the talent and ability to possibly be this team's #1 tailback. He's an accomplished college runner who was set to become the clear starter in Denver last year until his season was derailed by injury. And now he's competing for the starting role in arguably the league's most stacked running back group.

Escobar was an accomplished college pass catcher. Neither has done much in the NFL, but Ball has been downright bad. Esco has never really had any opportunities. Big difference.

Even as the starter last year Ball didn't do anything. He never had more than 67 yards in three games and averaged less than 4 ypc. He averages a fumble every 51 touches. The guy has been a complete nothing, so its baffling how anyone could think he can come in here and take over the #1 spot. Heck, Jo Randle has as many TDs as ball in 70 fewer carries.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I saw a couple of Cleveland games last year and their entire RB situation is a mess. Since I follow fantasy stuff pretty close I could tell that before watching. I was desperate and West was 'hot' at the time and about a month later I moved on.

Good point and the big red flag was when they drafted Duke.

 

[Stash]

Escobar was an accomplished college pass catcher. Neither has done much in the NFL, but Ball has been downright bad. Esco has never really had any opportunities. Big difference.

Records
NCAA single season records

• Most touchdowns, season: 39 tied (2011)
• Most consecutive games with two or more touchdowns: 13 (2011)
• Most points scored by non-kicker: 236 (2011)

NCAA career records

• Most touchdowns: 83 (2009-2012)
• Most Rushing Touchdowns: 77 (2009-2012)

Big Ten single season records

• Most touchdowns: 39 (2011)

Wisconsin single season records

• Most touchdowns: 39 (2011)
• Most rushing touchdowns: 33 (2011)

If you would care to list similar accomplishments for Gavin Escobar, we can have the conversation regarding use of the word "accomplished".

Even as the starter last year Ball didn't do anything. He never had more than 67 yards in three games and averaged less than 4 ypc. He averages a fumble every 51 touches.

As was previously stated, last year was derailed by injury and ineffective offensive line play. He had an appendectomy right before the season started and was never the same all season. And Denver's line struggled early on to open holes for any of the running backs.

Ball lost the ball three times in the team’s first 11 games but did not lose it again down the stretch or in the Broncos’ three postseason games.

And he came on strong later in his rookie season. In the first eight games of the season, he had just two carries that gained more than 10 yards -- or 3.6 percent of his 55 carries over the first eight games. In the season’s second half, he had 11 of his 65 carries -- 16.9 percent -- gain more than 10 yards. And he averaged 5.8 yards per carry over his last 6 games of 2013.

The guy has been a complete nothing, so its baffling how anyone could think he can come in here and take over the #1 spot. Heck, Jo Randle has as many TDs as ball in 70 fewer carries.

He had one bad year, but unlike Gavin Escobar, he has actually accomplished great things before.

Going into the 2014 season, the Broncos believed enough in Ball to send Knowshon Moreno packing and give him the starting job over the other backs they had - including their current projected starter CJ Anderson.

 

[Silver N Blue]

You don't have to catch a pass to make an impact. Teams know he's a favorite red zone target of Romo's and it frees up other people.

There's simply only one ball. If you only throw 24 times a game, that doesn't leave much for Escobar and Hanna. But that doesn't mean he isn't impactful.

Alvin Harper got very few balls his way for a starting receiver, but he still make an impact.

I agree with what your saying but I have to agree with Stash on bringing in Ball. I don't think the broncos want a TE anyway so its all a moot point. They do need some OL help and that is where I would focus.

 

[erod]

I agree with what your saying but I have to agree with Stash on bringing in Ball. I don't think the broncos want a TE anyway so its all a moot point. They do need some OL help and that is where I would focus.

Why? The guy isn't really any good.