The Eagles shipped running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso on Tuesday in the rare NFL trade involving two big-name players. We're on record as saying that the Bills got the worst of the deal. Not because McCoy isn't one of the league's best backs (he is, despite a down 2014 season), but because his cap hit for 2015 is $10.25 million.
Yes, we know, the Bills have the room. And yes, they need a dynamic back with C.J. Spiller set to hit free agency. And yes, it's another weapon, along with wideout Sammy Watkins, for whoever wins the quarterback job -- EJ Manuel or just-acquired Matt Cassel.
But if we've learned anything in the last decade, it's that the running back position, more than any other, is fungible. There's seldom a good reason to devote so much cap space -- even if you have it -- to a running back when that production can likely be found elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.
Not everyone agrees with us, starting with our Eye on Football Podcast co-host Will Brinson, who made his case on the latest episode. (Remember to subscribe to the EOF Podcast on iTunes.)
Another fan of the trade for the Broncos: Former Hurricane, Broncos, and Redskins running back
Clinton Portis.
“I don't think this is an even deal,” Portis said during an appearance on NFL Network (via the Washington Post). “I think Kiko Alonso could turn out to be a great player in time, but a guy coming off an injury, missing a full season, being traded for LeSean McCoy after two monster seasons?….If the Bills could keep LeSean McCoy for the next four years, the production that he's going to give them and the excitement that he's going to bring to Buffalo Bills fans will be
way more impressive than what Kiko Alonso brings to the Philadelphia Eagles….
LeSean McCoy is out in Philly and Kiko Alonso is reunited with Chip Kelly. (Getty Images)
“I don't see Kiko Alonso turning out to be a J.J. Watt, or a Ray Lewis, or a guy who can just dominate this conference,” Portis continued. “Maybe he does, but I don't see it in him, and I think it's going to be hard to do. So I think the Bills really won in this trade.”
Before the 2004 season, Portis, originally Denver's second-round pick, was traded to Washington in exchange for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round pick. Both players had good-to-great runs with their new teams, though if we're keeping score, the Broncos got the best of the deal. Either way, Portis, who last played in 2010, likes the Bills' aggressiveness.
“I was just as shocked as everyone else,” Portis. “I mean, you look at trading a weapon such as LeSean McCoy for anybody. Unless you're trading for J.J. Watt or Ndamukong Suh, that's not a trade worth having, if you ask me. I mean, you look at LeSean McCoy, he was 300 yards away from his best season last year….So this is a trade I really don't understand.”
Worth noting: McCoy was an average back in 2014. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and ranked 16th in total value, according to Football Outsiders. The year before, however, McCoy was unstoppable; he averaged 5.1 yards per carry and was first in total value among all NFL backs.
McCoy even admitted to us at the Super Bowl that he wasn't at his best last season, but added, "I'll do what I do best (next season) and I'm sure they'll be jumping back on the bandwagon."
He just had no idea that he'd be doing it in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Portis wonders if the real issue in Philly wasn't McCoy's slip in production but what the remaining players think of Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who has cleaned house this offseason.
"You look at this trade and you look at the Eagles letting go DeSean Jackson last year, it just comes to the realization that there's more going on in Philadelphia than we know about,” Portis said. “Maybe it's an ego thing with Coach Chip Kelly. I think the players enjoy playing for him, you see a lot of players succeed, and of course last year being his first year, there was a lot of excitement coming out of Philadelphia. But the last two moves that they made have been questionable.”
We're guessing Kelly's not done.
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Chip Kelly keep this ish up with the Eagles trading away their best players because he thinks Chip Kelly is some Football God, then that joker gonna find himself right back in college Football. Plus, does he really think that teams won't figure out all the nuances of his offense. Remind me of the ole ball coach stacking the Redskins team with Gators. I give Chip one year to win, and he bust then he'll be gone. The NFL has become way more impatient when they think a coach is not working out than what it used to be.
