Free Agent Running Backs 2012

By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:

Ray Rice – Ravens - Through four years in the league, Rice has established himself as one of the NFL’s most consistently productive running backs and heads a decent class of free agents at his position. A product of Rutgers in 2008, the small, but versatile ball-carrier has appeared in two Pro-Bowls and been an integral part of Baltimore’s dangerous offense. While it’s hard not to question how many hits a 5-foot-8 back like Rice will be able to take, especially with his up-the-middle running style, there’s been no question the 24-year-old has been the centerpiece of the Ravens in recent years. With three straight years of at least 1,220 yards and five scores on the ground, he’ll likely command a big payday, but figures to be back with the team he began his career with.

Matt Forte -Bears – Typically, when a premier running back prepares to hit the open market, his team works hard to get a long-term deal done ahead of time, but that hasn’t been the case with Forte and the Bears, meaning other NFL clubs could have a shot at landing a top-tier ball-carrier this offseason. He followed up a promising rookie campaign with a forgettable 2009 season that included a yards-per-carry average of just 3.6, but has since developed into one of the league’s top all-around offensive threats. This past season, he fell just three yards short of the 1,000-yard mark and also hauled in 52 passes for nearly 500 yards…in 12 games. At 26, Forte is older than Rice, but remains a potentially elite free agent option.

Marshawn Lynch – Seahawks- Before joining the Seahawks during the 2010 season, Lynch appeared to be on a serious decline, which followed up a promising, yet controversial tenure with Buffalo, but has turned his career around and figures to garner a good deal of interest as a free agent. After two straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his professional career, Lynch fell victim to injuries and quickly fell out of favor with the Bills, especially after being suspended for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Since coming to Seattle via trade, however, the 25-year-old Lynch has been nothing short of a bruising highlight reel, powering his way to over 1,700 rushing yards in 26 starts for the Seahawks.

Running Backs
Ray Rice
Matt Forte
Marshawn Lynch
Michael Bush
Peyton Hillis
Cedric Benson
Mike Tolbert
Kevin Smith
Jason Snelling
Justin Forsett
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Tim Hightower
Steve Slaton
Cadillac Williams
LaDainian Tomlinson
Ronnie Brown
Ryan Grant
Jackie Battle
Sammy Morris
Mewelde Moore
Maurice Morris
Earnest Graham
Chester Taylor
Kevin Faulk
Tashard Choice
Derrick Ward
Thomas Jones
Jerious Norwood
LenDale White
Rock Cartwright

Jerome Harrison: The Trade That Saved His Life

By Gayle Saunders
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Sometimes things happen for reasons, and in Jerome Harrison’s case, the proposed trade to the Eagles could have been the best thing that ever happened to him. While he was going through his physical, the doctors found a brain tumor which cancelled the deal immediatley between the Eagles and Lions.

At the moment Harrison’s brain tumor is now being treated, according to sources.

If the deal were never proposed, Harrison might have not gotten a physical as soon as he did. With that being said, unfortunately Harrison will not play again this season. The positive here, Jerome’s long term health looks to be good. He is still meeting with more Doctors to get second opinions.

We here at Skinnypost.com wish Jerome all the best and hope for a speedy recovery!

Philadelphia Eagles Bring Ronnie Brown to the Nest

By Gayle Saunders
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The Philadelpia Eagles have signed long time Dolphins Running back Ronnie Brown.

Brown was the second overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, and had his best season in 2008. With LeSean Mccoy coming into his own at the running back position Ronnie Brown will fit in nicely with what the Eagles do and is already used to splitting carries with Ricky Williams. Both Brown and McCoy, along with quarterback Michael Vick, give them direct-snap options in Andy Reid’s version of the Wildcat offense with which Brown excelled in as a Dolphin.

Brown is a founding contributor to the Wildcat offense and best believe Andy reid will have packages in mind for Ronnie Brown if he can stay healthy throughout the season. For a runningback who excels in the passing game and runs with power this is a solid pickup for the Philadelphia Eagles.

general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement.

“Ronnie is an all-around running back with a versatile skill set,” “He can run the ball, catch it, and does very well in pass protection. He’ll add some good size to our backfield and he’s a good character guy. We think he’ll be a tremendous compliment to LeSean and the other young backs on this team that we really like. You can never have enough good running backs in this league and we are happy to have Ronnie join us.”

Ronnie Brown trucks Greg Wesley

Ronnie Brown trucks Antonio Cromartie

Ronnie Brown misses $500k bonus by 16 yards

By Gayle Saunders
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Veteran work horse running back Ronnie Brown, who recently became a free agent as of last weekend, sadly finished 16 yards shy of a big fat $500,000 bonus check.

Brown, who was 30 yards short entering Sunday’s finale vs New England, came up 16 yards short. In total he needed to rush for 750 yards to get the bonus He managed to gain 14 yards on six carries.

“It probably crossed my mind,” Brown said, “but not really. I’m one of those guys I try to look at everything in a positive light.”

Brown has been unlucky the last two seasons which were shortened by year ending injuries, in 2010 he ended the year with 734 yards on 200 carries for a career-worst average of 3.7 yards per carry. The 734 yards rushing was also a career low for a complete season.

“It would have been great for me to be able to achieve [the 750-yard mark], but at the same time we’re down by 30 points or whatever…it is what it is,” Brown said. “I had an opportunity, didn’t get it. Now I have to move forward.” As for returning to the Dolphins, Brown said he wants to come back.

However Sunday’s 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots might have been Brown’s last game in a Miami Dolphins uniform, but it’s highly unlikely it’s his last inside Gillette Stadium.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has long been a fan of Brown, and it’s possible Brown could be added to the long list of former Dolphins whose careers blossom in New England under Belichick.

Miami stays Wild in 09!

By Gayle Saunders

Whether or not you are wild about the Wildcat offense, the Miami Dolphins have had major success while using it last season and it’s made a perfect transition into 2009.

In 2008 in wake of a week 2 loss to the Cardinals the Miami Dolphins looked to change their offensive structure, they sat back and thought of different types of gameplans. They were open to a whole new approach and open to different formations and new ideas. Tony Sparano, Head coach of the Dolphins and quarterbacks coach David Lee began conversation regarding the offensive schemes Lee had run with running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, while he was offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2007. The “Wild Hog” made its game changing debut versus the New England Patriots the following week. The Thrashing of the New England Patriots turned the “Wild Hog” into the “WildCat” as we know it today. The unproven one trick pony offense took the Dolphins from zero to hero, and inspired a league full of imitators.

If you look at the Wildcat you have to ask yourself…What is so intriguing about it, and why has it worked so well for Miami? The wildcat is an offspring of the old single-wing, and the player taking the ball from center in a shotgun set has various options. Below you will see Coach David Lee who is now with the Miami Dolphins explain the break down of the Wildcat Offense and show the three primary plays used in the system.

“Steeler,” The running back moves from left side to right side after the snap and takes a handoff from the Wildcat Quarterback. The running back then blasts off to the right behind a pulling left guard, which is an unbalanced right offensive line, and an H-back either between and behind the two right tackles or just outside the right tackle to block. There is also a Steeler option where its a handoff to the quarterback from wide right . The Dolphins used this trick play on The Texan — where they had Pennington throw to the Haflback from the slot for a big play.

“Power,” is where the fake to the running back in the “Steeler” formation leaves the quarterback to go through any one of four different holes to the right. The H-back will stay tight to block, and guard that is pulling guard is the key. (the red arrows show the secondary options for the ball carrier; dashed arrows show fakes or players running decoy routes.)

“Counter” (70 Weak), is where the running back fake leaves the defense biting on “Power,” as the back runs left through a open cutback lane. The line uses slide protection instead of a pulling offensive guard. There is also a passing option out of the Counter, as Miami running back Ronnie Brown showed against the Pats when he hit tight end Tony Fasano for a touchdown in the video below. (fast forward to :34 )

“It could be the single wing, it could be the Delaware split buck business that they used to do,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning said. “The Wild Cat comes from all of that.

Either way you look at it, the Miami Dolphins have showed that they know the Wildcat system inside and out, and have groomed it as if it were their own personal pet. Various teams might try to mirror their success, but Miami has the personnel to make it pop. With Ricky Williams and most importantly Ronnie Brown running the ball, they offer two solid run options in the backfield. The addition of Pat White to the mix means they foresee a future with their wildcat package. The best may be yet to come. Lets thank the Dolphins coaching staff and Tony Sparano for their dedication to their craft and the bravery to think outside the box.