So what to do with Barber?

[tko112204]

If we cut Barber before the start of next season, he will not be paid his salary so there is a savings to the team and Jones. The portion of the contract that is eaten is the signing bonus which can never be retrieved - it is a sunk cost now.

I don't know what Barber's actual salary is for next year. The cap number right now would be irrelevant because there is no cap.

That makes sense, I suppose I misspoke. His base salary for 2010 is 3.86 M, which isn't exorboriant by any means, but it goes up to 7 M by the end of the deal, which he'll never see even if he stays healthy till 2014. I would think the next two years, which are 3.86 and 4.25 respectively, wouldn't be too much of a burden, but after that I would imagine he could be cut or restructred. I hate to think about cutting him because of the passion he brings and his consummate professional attitude, but with the impending deals for, and I'm thinking way in the future here, Spencer and Jenkins and Ratliff and Austin it seems like he will have to be let go. Not yet though, right?

 

[Cover 2]

Like a couple of people have stated, I want to see Barber in his closer role. I don't see Barber helping us out during our playoff run though, because he's too worn down and beat up from the season.

 

[UnoDallas]

well all we need is A third rounder for him
then draft

Toby Gerhart, Stanford
Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2010): 2-4

I will be he can pick up one yard

or

Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2010): 2-4.

1/3/10: Ryan Mathews has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Mathews' stock will never be higher than it is now, so he made the right decision.

11/7/09: Ryan Mathews is having an incredible year at Fresno State (1,316 yards, 7.4 YPC, 11 TDs in eight games). You may shrug off the fact that he plays in the WAC, but in three games against Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Boise State, Mathews has rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns on 76 carries.


Charles Scott, LSU
Height: 5-11. Weight: 233.
Projected 40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.


Sorry MBIII its time to say good bye

 

[tko112204]

Ryan Matthews is a certifiable bada$$. I played QB two years before he did at the high school I went to in CA. He played QB and broke every CIF rushing record there was. He has ideal size and speed combo. I would soil myself if we drafted him. He's younger than most that come out of college, just turned 21 I think, he could be good for a very long time. Put up great numbers at Fresno State, they don't play in a BCS conference or anything, but they play a really good schedule and he performed against top notch comp.

 

[sbark]

Allegedly knee bursitis. Unsure if he will play against the Vikings.

...hometown & college town.....he'll get some snaps in

 

[Eskimo]

That makes sense, I suppose I misspoke. His base salary for 2010 is 3.86 M, which isn't exorboriant by any means, but it goes up to 7 M by the end of the deal, which he'll never see even if he stays healthy till 2014. I would think the next two years, which are 3.86 and 4.25 respectively, wouldn't be too much of a burden, but after that I would imagine he could be cut or restructred. I hate to think about cutting him because of the passion he brings and his consummate professional attitude, but with the impending deals for, and I'm thinking way in the future here, Spencer and Jenkins and Ratliff and Austin it seems like he will have to be let go. Not yet though, right?

The numbers for 2010 aren't that bad for a guy who could give us some quality snaps at a position where you need to go 3 deep these days.

My big issue with Barber is what role does he play. Garrett just overuses him and keeps Felix on the bench and I don't want to ever see that again. If he is here for short yardage, he looked really bad at it at the end of the year. If you're talking about "closer", he doesn't look like he has the same burst or agility that he once had so I'm not sure he can do that anymore even if we limited his snaps. Barber used to be able to bounce some of these short-yardage plays outside and will his way around the corner but it has been a long time since I saw him do that. He is slow to the hole and dances around too much for a betwee-the-tackles runner. I guess in the end I'm not that convinced that he is all that good anymore.

I still would think that we trade him or ask for a big pay cut. He may not be tradeable because of that contract.

 

[Roadtrip635]

If those numbers are correct, 3.86 and 4.25, that doesn't seem too outlandish. Like many have already said, it's more of how and when he gets used. Felix is looking more like our every down back, but he's injury prone. Definitely would love to see TC get more chances but it's a nice luxury to have 3 good RB's. Keep all three just use 'em more effectively. In MBIII's defense, I think he's been hurting more than he would let on. There has been a noticeable difference in his explosiveness since that early season injury, it never really healed up. IMO, that's what been holding him back, without that quick burst he starts to dance in the hole and makes him tenative.

 

[trueblue1687]

What do we do with this guy? Obviously Jones is the guy now and choice is a better backup. I know he's slow but he can't even break tackles anymore, what do you guys think we're going to do with him in minny?

How do you arrive at the conclusion that Jones being the "guy" now is "obvious"?? Because Jones got the bulk of carries when Barber is nicked up? Pretty short sighted to jump to that conclusion after one game. Jones hasn't really shown the ability to stay healthy in my opinion. He's great in his role...maybe add a few more snaps a game. But defenses still respect Barber and he is still a better RB than anybody on the team. RBs don't just run the ball. Barber does the other stuff better than the others.

 

[rangers71]

Sometimes this board is so stupid. We are the hottest team in the league. We just stormed into the playoffs. We just destroyed our hated rival two weeks in a row. Won the NFC East and won a playoff game for the first time in 13 years. Yeahlet's start making changes to the way we have been doing them. Can't we just enjoy the ride while it lasts?

By the way Marion is hurt and has been all season. Give him some time and he will be a beast again.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

How do you arrive at the conclusion that Jones being the "guy" now is "obvious"?? Because Jones got the bulk of carries when Barber is nicked up? Pretty short sighted to jump to that conclusion after one game.

Run the numbers for the months of December/January and you'll see that the number of carries for Felix Jones is increasing to the point that they were about 50/50 prior to the playoff game.

Jones hasn't really shown the ability to stay healthy in my opinion.

I think you can say the same about Barber.

But defenses still respect Barber

Linky where you can prove that?

If I were a defensive player who would I fear more?

The guy that can break a 10-yarder or the the guy that can break the 70-yarder?

and he is still a better RB than anybody on the team. RBs don't just run the ball. Barber does the other stuff better than the others.

Barber is better at picking up the blitz-- no question.

But as far as running the ball and receiving... There's a big gap (not in his favor) between Barber and Felix Jones.

 

[wileedog]

Sometimes this board is so stupid. We are the hottest team in the league. We just stormed into the playoffs. We just destroyed our hated rival two weeks in a row. Won the NFC East and won a playoff game for the first time in 13 years. Yeahlet's start making changes to the way we have been doing them. Can't we just enjoy the ride while it lasts?

Its a message board. If you don't want to read about it, don't click the link.

There's 3000 other "Wade is great!" threads you can go play in.

By the way Marion is hurt and has been all season. Give him some time and he will be a beast again.

Everybody said from day 1 when we got Barber we expected he was going to have a short shelf life because of the way he runs.

This is what a short shelf life looks like. He's progressively dinged up more and more each year, and is losing the burst and agility that made him what he was.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Like others said, he's just painfully average now. When he does make good runs, it's through big holes that would yield even bigger runs to Felix or even Choice.

Sorry, I don't know why it offends some people, but as huge as Barber's heart is and as much as we all love his effort, he's just of average talent. A 220-lb guy just can't bulldoze NFL defenses for years without getting beat to death. Unfortunately, we're already seeing it happen.

I don't think we can or would get rid of him due to his contract, but if I had my druthers we'd draft a 230, 240+ downhill back in the mid-rounds to fill his role.

 

[Doctor32]

What do we do with this guy? Obviously Jones is the guy now and choice is a better backup. I know he's slow but he can't even break tackles anymore, what do you guys think we're going to do with him in minny?

The Cowboys have a good RB situation that opponents fear. Why is it so hard for some fans to appreciate their team's assets?

 

[panchucko]

Play him if he is 100%, let him rest but active if he isn't. With Felix you never know if he will come up lame, and Choice seems to have something wrong with his head.

 

[wileedog]

If those numbers are correct, 3.86 and 4.25, that doesn't seem too outlandish.

$4M a season for a part time back is absolutely outlandish.

I would absolutely be looking to trade Barber this offseason, give that money to Austin, and spend another 3rd-4th round pick on a replacement. We seem pretty adept at getting backs in the 4th round, and really, they are not that hard to find in the draft relative to other positions.

We have two good backs behind him who are better and cheaper. I realize he is a popular player, but the correct business move is to move on.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think if healthy Barber will be very important vs a defense like Minn