The Buffalo Bills want an improved offense in 2014. With quarterback EJ Manuel reportedly healthy after suffering numerous knee injuries last year, the Bills have been trying to surround him with the weapons needed to be successful. They traded for wide receiver Mike Williams and drafted Sammy Watkins to help while also acquiring running back Bryce Brown. Head coach Doug Marrone is confident that this season can be successful for the Bills, but does that include CJ Spiller?
When the Bills acquiring Brown in a trade prior to the NFL Draft, it left some lingering questions regarding Spiller. The running back is technically under contract through 2015 with an opt-out clause that could make him a free agent in 2014. The Bills are not thinking of giving Spiller a new contract right now, which complicates things further. After inconsistent stats have plagued his past few seasons with the team, does Buffalo try and trade the running back now instead of later?
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the idea of trading Spiller is not farfetched despite his status as one of the team's best offensive weapons. The Bills have quality at the running back position. Fred Jackson is not going anywhere and will not for the remainder of his career. Brown has the talent to be a starting running back. He was simply buried on his past team's depth chart. The Bills also having Anthony Dixon for depth. Spiller is not a necessity.
With upgrades at the wide receiver position, Spiller is not necessarily the best offensive weapon, just one that can help take pressure off Manuel. However, running back injuries have already begun to be a storyline in training camp and if a contending team loses too many, Spiller could see interest surrounding him. The San Francisco 49ers lost two running backs this weekend in Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James. The Indianapolis Colts lost Vick Ballard. The Miami Dolphins are having issues with Knowshon Moreno. The Minnesota Vikings also need depth behind Adrian Peterson. If officially available, there is a quality market for Spiller.
Right now, the Bills running back is not thinking about his status on the team, but more how he can help the offense when on the field. Buffalo is banking on the improvement of second-year pro Manuel. Spiller intends to help that effort.
"I think if we have our running game going, [Manuel will] feel more comfortable relying on that instead of having him going out there saying 'EJ, we need you to throw the ball,'" Spiller said, via NFL.com.
