subject: Buffalo Bills Tickets - Bills Ink Rb Spiller To Five-year Deal [print this page] The Buffalo Bills have signed running back C.J. Spiller, the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, to a five-year deal worth $25 million. The contract reportedly could max out at over $37 million, and $20.8 million is guaranteed. The team's selection of Spiller was a criticized one, as the Bills appeared to have more glaring needs heading into April's draft, but the speedy back will certainly help sell Buffalo Bills tickets from day one.
Spiller is a unique talent and was billed as the best running back in the 2010 class. Possessing breakaway speed and a solid all-around skill set, Spiller was projected to be selected early in the draft, but not many prognosticators thought Buffalo to be a legitimate destination. The Bills were seen as a club that had major holes on the offensive line, and with a bevy of top-rated linemen available in the draft, the thinking around the league was that the team would use their first-round pick to help shore up their shaky unit in the trenches. Spiller's talent must have been too enticing to pass up on, as he's the kind of player that can take it the distance every time he touches the ball.
Spiller could be a difference-maker right away, but let's face it: the Bills are in a rebuilding year. Spiller is definitely a piece that the team will build around, but they've still got a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position. Most people around the league expect Trent Edwards to win the starting job this preseason, though it's not a lock. Edwards has the most experience and is the most reliable of the three quarterbacks currently on the team's roster. Ryan Fitzpatrick has played well at times, but he's probably nothing more than a backup. Brian Brohm was a highly-rated prospect coming out of Louisville but has disappointed on the pro level.
The Bills are going to have to protect Edwards if they're going to have any real success with their passing game. Edwards has been constantly forced to check down quickly due to the offensive line's poor protection in the past, which eliminates the effectiveness of the team's best offensive player, deep threat receiver Lee Evans. One has to wonder how well-known Evans could be around the league if he had the luxury of playing in an explosive offense with a big-armed quarterback.
Hope is not lost in Buffalo, though. While they may struggle in 2010, it could net them the signal caller they desperately need. The 2011 draft class projects to have three elite arms, and the Bills will probably be in the market for a quarterback next offseason unless Edwards shines this season. Jake Locker is thought to be the frontrunner for the first overall selection in the 2011 draft, as he might have been the first pick in 2010 had he declared himself eligible. Andrew Luck of Stanford is another promising prospect, as is Arkansas signal caller Ryan Mallet.
Signing Spiller was a necessity, and the Bills were wise to get a deal done early into camp. Spiller is the kind of player that can make a rebuilding season fun, giving the Buffalo faithful a star player to root for going forward. The organization definitely has a lot of work to do to compete for the AFC East title, but the light at the end of the tunnel may have just become visible, in the shape of a 5'11", 196-pound speedster.
by: Pat Smith
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