Free Agent Rankings

[shworge]

ESPN released their free agent ratings. Here is what they had at the running back position:

Shaun Alexander - 91

Edgerrin James - 85

Lamont Jordan - 74

Rudi Johnson - 72

I would have to say I pretty much agree with those rankings. I was a little surprised to see Rudi so far down, considering he had over 1400 yards this year, but when I read there comments there is nothing I could disagree with.

P.S. TJ had a rating of 66.

[Beaker]

In fantasy football RBs are at a premium. In the NFL, theyre easily replaced.

[bengalboomer7]

If you ask me they are disrespecting Rudi a little. Lamont Jordan has never been a starter, didn't rush for 1400+ yards and break his team rushing record. I don't think I'm being biased or a "homer" in saying that either. How can a back up be ahead of Rudi?

[shworge]

If you ask me they are disrespecting Rudi a little. Lamont Jordan has never been a starter, didn't rush for 1400+ yards and break his team rushing record. I don't think I'm being biased or a "homer" in saying that either. How can a back up be ahead of Rudi?

He's only a backup because he has Curtis Martin playing in front of him. How much playing time did Rudi get when a healthy Corey Dillon was on the team? Answer: even less than Lamont Jordan got with a healthy Martin in front of him. At least he is good enough to take snaps from Martin. Also says that Jordan is more than ready to take over as a full time starter and is a threat in the passing game, which Rudi isn't. Plus, he averaged almost 5 yards per carry last year.

[HoosierCat]

I thought these rankings of top FAs were pretty good...

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2005/freeagents.html

He's only done QB, RB, and WR so far. I thought he had Rudi and TJ down pretty well.

[bengalboomer7]

Who cares, the keyword in all of that is that he is a backup!!! He doesn't start, doesn't carry the ball 20-25 times a game, doesn't have a 1000 year and isn't good enough to take the starting job, so how do you rate him above someone that has proved he can do that already.

[shworge]

I thought these rankings of top FAs were pretty good...

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2005/freeagents.html

He's only done QB, RB, and WR so far. I thought he had Rudi and TJ down pretty well.

I would say those ranking are pretty good. They have Jordan ranked ahead of Rudi as well. I agree with the comment about not overpaying Rudi because he can't take over a game.

[shworge]

Who cares, the keyword in all of that is that he is a backup!!! He doesn't start, doesn't carry the ball 20-25 times a game, doesn't have a 1000 year and isn't good enough to take the starting job, so how do you rate him above someone that has proved he can do that already.

Ummm... Curtis Martin won the rushing title this year and is a Hall of Famer... shouldn't be that easy to beat him out for the starting job.

[bengalboomer7]

Even with yours Joisey, they are rating these guys on guessing "I think he can be good" Well, we KNOW Rudi can put up 1400-1500 yards. Jordan is just speculation

He may very well be better than Rudi (personally I think he is) but until he proves it, you can't rate him higher thatn a 1000 yard starting running back!

[bengalboomer7]

You guys are missing the point. He hasn't proved he can do anything other than productively spell a starting running back. I DO think Jordan is better myself, but he hasn't proved that so he should not be considered the better running back

[shworge]

Even with yours Joisey, they are rating these guys on guessing "I think he can be good" Well, we KNOW Rudi can put up 1400-1500 yards. Jordan is just speculation

He may very well be better than Rudi (personally I think he is) but until he proves it, you can't rate him higher thatn a 1000 yard starting running back!

He averages 5.2 yards per carry, never gets hurt and has great hands... it's not that much of a stretch to rate him ahead of Rudi. It doesn't mean that Rudi isn't a productive back just means this guy has more talent.

[HoosierCat]

Even with yours Joisey, they are rating these guys on guessing "I think he can be good"

Well, of course...that's what they get paid to do...or simply enjoy doing. Take them for what they're worth, i.e. some guy's opinion.

As far as Rudi v. Lamont, the biggest reason I see to put Jordan ahead would be that, like the tranditional fullback, the "ground-pounder"-style RB is out of vogue these days. Not that teams don't want a guy who can pound it between the tackles...but they want everything else (receiving ability, cutback ability, burst, speed, elusiveness, all that) too. In that sense, what Rudi has actually shown as a starter hurts him as much as helps him, since NFL teams can dissect and criticize an actual performance, while Jordan's worth as a starter remains in that tantalizing (and often over-rated) arena of "potential."

[bengalboomer7]

I understand you argument Joisey, and your right, these guys get paid for their opinion, but does anyone know what they'll get with Lamont Jordan on a regular basis. Think of all the variables that no one knows about. Is he injury prone, does he take plays off, will he look as tough on his 30th carry as he was on his fifth, you get my idea. The fact of the matter is, all of those questions that you don't know about until you get on the field have been answered by Rudi. I agree tht Rudi doesn't have all the raw skills as Jordan but people know what they are getting with Rudi. He's already a proven running back. Jordan is just like a higher priced first round draft pick, while he may have more upside than Rudi, are you getting the next Walter Payton or the next Ki-jana!! You get my point, don't you. There are just too many variables for Lamont to rate him higher than the already proven player

[shworge]

I understand you argument Joisey, and your right, these guys get paid for their opinion, but does anyone know what they'll get with Lamont Jordan on a regular basis. Think of all the variables that no one knows about. Is he injury prone, does he take plays off, will he look as tough on his 30th carry as he was on his fifth, you get my idea. The fact of the matter is, all of those questions that you don't know about until you get on the field have been answered by Rudi. I agree tht Rudi doesn't have all the raw skills as Jordan but people know what they are getting with Rudi. He's already a proven running back. Jordan is just like a higher priced first round draft pick, while he may have more upside than Rudi, are you getting the next Walter Payton or the next Ki-jana!! You get my point, don't you. There are just too many variables for Lamont to rate him higher than the already proven player

He has played in the league for 4 years, so some of those questions should be answered by now. It's not like he has sat on the bench the whole time, he had a pretty good role in the Jets offense with about 10 touches per game.

[HoosierCat]

I understand you argument Joisey, and your right, these guys get paid for their opinion, but does anyone know what they'll get with Lamont Jordan on a regular basis. Think of all the variables that no one knows about.

Well, that's just my point. Like I said, it's a clash between Rudi's reality and Jordan's potential, and right now only Rudi's reality can be dissected and analyzed. Replace "Jordan" with "Perry" and you might better recognize the argument!

[bengalboomer7]

I actually thought about doing that, then decided against it because Perry was/is a rookie, but you're right it's the same thing. I guess that can explain why in that argument between Rudi and Perry I still go with reality!!

And sworge, Jordan didn't start getting that many touches untli later this year, I think. I just can't see rating a backup where his status is still an unknown over a guy that's proved it over a 25 or so games. Jordan is still a bit of a question mark, but with Rudi, you at least know what you've got, stone hands and all! If oldschooler was around he'd find the stats for us. Speaking of, haven't seen him around lately

[turningpoint]

I was just thinking about Porter....I'd love to have him as our 2nd wr.

[HoosierCat]

I actually thought about doing that, then decided against it because Perry was/is a rookie, but you're right it's the same thing. I guess that can explain why in that argument between Rudi and Perry I still go with reality!!

I hear ya. Just remember that while there's no shortage of players who have failed to live up to their alleged potential -- as any Bengals fan can attest! -- there is also no shortage of players whose "reality" has failed to transfer from one year and/or one team to the next. Recent cases in point might be Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis (or, in the opposite direction, Drew Brees).

[HairOnFire]

As far as Rudi v. Lamont, the biggest reason I see to put Jordan ahead would be that, like the tranditional fullback, the "ground-pounder"-style RB is out of vogue these days. Not that teams don't want a guy who can pound it between the tackles...but they want everything else (receiving ability, cutback ability, burst, speed, elusiveness, all that) too.

I'm never sure what's in vogue, but I'll once again express some doubt about Rudi Johnson being a pure power back based upon the number of 200+ yard rushing games he's produced in less than two full seasons of starting service.

In addition, I think Rudi's average per rush will improve as Palmer progresses. Too may opposing defenses stacked the LOS and dared Palmer to beat them downfield consistently this season. That'll change. I also think under the right circumstances provided by Palmer, and hopefully Perry, Rudi might be just as productive getting fewer carries.

Last, I think any team that thinks it can give the ball to Lamont Jordan 325-360 attempts per season and watch him continue to average 5 yards a pop are going to be hugely disappointed. And that's no slight directed at Jordan.

[HairOnFire]

Random thoughts after reading the rankings provided by Joisey's link...

They're predicting the Bengals keep Rudi even if they have to overpay and will let TJ walk....giving Washington his role. Perfect. That's just the way I'd cut that meat.

They also think David Givens and Troy Edwards would be additions the Bengals might be interested in if TJ walks. Interesting to a point. The idea of adding Givens sounds like an upgrade, but losing TJ before adding Edwards feels like a bandaid.

After reading the QB ranking I think you could slip Jon Kitna into 3rd place on the list of available QB's if the Bengals were open to trading him. That's interesting enough, but I'd immediately move him up to 2nd if the Chargers tag Breeze. So let me ask, what's Kitna's trade value in a market where he's the 2nd best veteran option for a team looking to upgrade it's QB play? Might be healthy stuff. And just to add a little flavor, Mike McMahon is available. He used to be a favorite of Mike Brown.

[HoosierCat]

After reading the QB ranking I think you could slip Jon Kitna into 3rd place on the list of available QB's if the Bengals were open to trading him. That's interesting enough, but I'd immediately move him up to 2nd if the Chargers tag Breeze. So let me ask, what's Kitna's trade value in a market where he's the 2nd best veteran option for a team looking to upgrade it's QB play? Might be healthy stuff. And just to add a little flavor, Mike McMahon is available. He used to be a favorite of Mike Brown.

I dunno. I've gone back and forth on the subject of Kit's trade value. There's certainly a number of teams out there with QB questions...but his potential to be a long-term starter -- some team's "answer" at QB -- is very small. At best he's a stopgap and/or tutor for some young kid. Maybe someone gives up a fourth-rounder for that, a prospect that does little for me.

Apropos of nothing, 39-year-old Neil O'Donnel said yesterday he'd be interested in hauling his creaking bones back on the field for the right team (like the Jets). Advice to NOD: don't hold your breath.

[UKstripes]

Using http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8183311/1 I think we should be looking at the following:

C/G Ben Hamilton; Denver - http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235073

C Dominic Raiola; Detroit - http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235237

SS Dwight Smith; Tampa Bay - http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235156

Previous posters have also indicated:

DE Reggie Hayward; Denver - http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235077

DT Marcus Bell; Detroit - http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235022

I would also personally like to see either Walter Jones or Orlando Pace in stripes as I'm not loving Levi Jones' work this year, although I'd keep him as a backup if the money was acceptable. (If the above players' current salaries make them non-viable, or they have been tagged in the last couple of days then I apologise for wasting everyone's time!)

Denver have cap issues, as do Tampa and the Seahawks.. does anyone think it possible we could aggressively pursue Hamilton, Hayward, Smith AND Walter Jones?

Finally - Marvin has said he won't look for Corners in the draft or free agency.. does this tell us anything about Dennis Weathersby's progression?

[LesterLyles]

Lamont is a very unique situation as far as free agency is concearned and where he compares to other backs. Clearly you can't blame him for not playing (he is behind a great back) but at the same time you don't kn ow how he will be as a feature back. He has unbeleiavle burst, excellent speed and very good power. He can break one at any time (something Curtis can't realy do). He has been, IMO, one of the main reasons the Jets have been a playoff team 3 of the last 4 years as opposed to 8-8, 7-9. He makes that diffeence in the 4th quarter where he just gets first downs on his own. Again, you have to take into account that he is fresh in Q4 while the defnse is worn out. Its really to to gage how a RB will do in a starting situation.

W/ that being said, having watchied teh guy for 4 years as well as at Maryland, let me tell you that he is an absolute stud and IMO a better back than Rudi. As I have told you guys, when not rooting for the Jets, I root for Cicncy and t/f if Lamont is gonna be anwhere, I want him to be in Cincy. I personally think he can be a top 5 back in the NFL in the next few years He is that good! Its a shame Curtis isn't a couple of years older.