Le'Veon Bell

[Captain Lemming]

Fun fact.
In 2017 we paid Bell more than the cumulative RB roster total of ANY SUPERBOWL winning team since 2013. I can't go earlier just because over the cap does not go back further. Considering backs made peanut before AP, I assume no Superbowl winner has drosters.

More specifically,
No SUPERBOWL winner has paid more that 8 million on their running back roster.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Really?
There is one undefeated team in the NFL. You know how much cap is spent on receiver and runningback?

The Steelers ENTIRE ROSTER of backs and receivers....UNDER 9 million cap hit. Total.

2017 Brown alone was 17 million..nearly double that. Add 12 Mil for Bell alone.

It's a fact that all teams value RB's and WRs. Team draft and spend a lot of money on RBs and WRs. The Pats spent a first round pick on Michel. The Pats spend a lot of money on Gronk and Edleman. The Chiefs spend a first round pick on a RB. The Chiefs paid Hill. Teams continue to value RBs and WRs.

I am not going to argue about the top paid guys in the league regardless of position. It's a pointless argument to have. Simply because the claim you make can be made for any position that earns top money. QB probably being the worst of all positions.

[feltdizz]

It's a fact that all teams value RB's and WRs. Team draft and spend a lot of money on RBs and WRs. The Pats spent a first round pick on Michel. The Pats spend a lot of money on Gronk and Edleman. The Chiefs spend a first round pick on a RB. The Chiefs paid Hill. Teams continue to value RBs and WRs.

I am not going to argue about the top paid guys in the league regardless of position. It's a pointless argument to have. Simply because the claim you make can be made for any position that earns top money. QB probably being the worst of all positions.

especially when you can cherry pick SB winners while ignoring all the teams who didn’t win one or make the playoffs using the same formula.

[feltdizz]

Yes, that is why only the ONE TEAM knows moneyball works in football have dominated this era.

the team who keeps getting caught cheating?

[BURGH86STEEL]

Yes, that is why only the ONE TEAM knows moneyball works in football have dominated this era.

Well that team cheated quite a bit. Don't forget about that. They also had Brady which covered for a lot of the issues in NE. They invested a 1st round pick in RB. They paid Gronk and Edelman a lot of money.

I am not sure why you want to live on the extreme end of the equation when it's been proven that there are many ways to win games? It's about having as good balance as possible. Not simply believing that teams shouldn't pay WR's and RB's money.

[Captain Lemming]

especially when you can cherry pick SB winners while ignoring all the teams who didn’t win one or make the playoffs using the same formula.

It is not cherry picking. Do the reverse Dizz. Cherry pick the recent teams that won a SB paying a back elite money. Just save time and jump back 20 years.

[Captain Lemming]

Well that team cheated quite a bit. Don't forget about that. They also had Brady which covered for a lot of the issues in NE. They invested a 1st round pick in RB. They paid Gronk and Edelman a lot of money.

I am not sure why you want to live on the extreme end of the equation when it's been proven that there are many ways to win games? It's about having as good balance as possible. Not simply believing that teams shouldn't pay WR's and RB's money.

They paid Edelman an average that was about 6 mil when they were winning SBs. He got a raise LAST YEAR, not looking too smart. I never include tight ends in my theory because the disparity is far greater with elites in that position. Nevertheless, the allocation cumulatively of backs receivers and tight ends for that team is always low end.

They spend big bucks on secondary. I will share why later.

[BURGH86STEEL]

It is not cherry picking. Do the reverse Dizz. Cherry pick the recent teams that won a SB paying a back elite money. Just save time and jump back 20 years.

Marshown Lynch?

[Captain Lemming]

Good one. He has come up before in these conversations. He is the solitary exception to the rule with runningbacks. There are maybe 1 or 2 receivers as well. I'm going to work now but I'll be back to express my thoughts on why that exception happened

[feltdizz]

Marshown Lynch?

his cap hit was 8.5 mill yer year in 2013 and 2014. Believe he was paid 12 mill total in 2013.

and imagine if they would’ve given him the ball in that second SB instead of throwing a slant.

[feltdizz]

Good one. He has come up before in these conversations. He is the solitary exception to the rule with runningbacks. There are maybe 1 or 2 receivers as well. I'm going to work now but I'll be back to express my thoughts on why that exception happened

there is no exception. It happened.

Plus he probably supplied one of the most exciting playoff runs in NFL history against the Saints.

[Northern_Blitz]

there is no exception. It happened.

Plus he probably supplied one of the most exciting playoff runs in NFL history against the Saints.

I don't think I'm getting the dates wrong here. The Seahawks had cap space to throw to an elite RB because they had a good QB on a rookie deal from 2012 - 2015 (4 years $3M with a $620k signing bonus)?

Not coincidentally, they represented the NFC in the SB in 2014 and 2015.

They haven't been back to a SB since their QB was on his 2nd contract.

You can pay use lots of cap space for elite RB (or WR) if you have a cheap QB. And you'll be competitive if your cheap QB is above average to very good.

The trick is being consistently successful when you have a market level QB that's above average to very good.

And spending lots of money on RB doesn't seem to be a good idea in that situation. And we're in that situation with Ben.

[Captain Lemming]

there is no exception. It happened.

You do understand what an "exception" is?
If it did not "happen" there would be NO exception.

Of course it happened...ONCE.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

It is not cherry picking. Do the reverse Dizz. Cherry pick the recent teams that won a SB paying a back elite money. Just save time and jump back 20 years.

[Deville's Advocate]
When Brady's won about half of 'em, I would imagine you could cherry pick at MANY positions... basically whatever they didn't invest heavily in....
[/Deville's Advocate]

[Northern_Blitz]

[Deville's Advocate]
When Brady's won about half of 'em, I would imagine you could cherry pick at MANY positions... basically whatever they didn't invest heavily in....
[/Deville's Advocate]

And the big thing with their roster construction is that they saved a ton of cap space because the best QB of this generation was in favor of being underpaid by enough money to add someone like Stephon Gilmore.

It's a HUGE advantage to be able to add a very good to elite player on D without sacrificing somewhere else.

I do think that Lemming is right that extra cap space is better spent on impact players on D when you have a very good QB (and I agree with him FWIW)