I wasn’t questioning why those guys weren’t on the list. My question related to the overall premise, which seems to be “acquiring a new running back through free agency or by the trade is a mixed bag.” I wanted to hear whether it was really a mixed bag when you compare talent level of incoming RB with their cost versus the talent level of outgoing RBs compared with their cost. How much did Oakland pay Lamont Jordan? Was his cost equivelent to his production? How about his replacement in New York compared to his cost?

My theory is that running back acquisitions are not bad because getting a new back is a bad idea, or even a mediocre idea; it’s because they are overvalued in cap space. I think that was Bill’s original point, too, I just wanted him to make it more explicit by looking at the salaries rather than only production. Maybe that information isn’t available though. That’s certainly understandable.

Your hypothesis seems to presume that these guys are all supposed to be upgrades. I’m not sure that’s right.

Take New Orleans trade of Ricky Williams to Miami. Deuce ended up being pretty good, but you’d have to assume NO did not expect their new guy to exceed Ricky’s output (yes I know it was a draft, but the principle should be the same). How about when the Broncos replaced Clinton Portis? Doubtful they thought his replacement(s) (who were they even, Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell?) would be better.

Sometimes you just get the best back you can for the least money.

What I think would make this comparison really interesting is to look at the salary and cap hits for these transfer backs and see who uses the players efficiently and who does not. That would really tie in with your point about McGahee not being worth his contract….

What I see in McGahee is a back who was underutilized in Buffalo, and someone who can actually hit cutbacks in Baltimore — something that Jamal Lewis couldn’t do with his bad ankles and knees.

I strongly feel that McGahee is an upgrade over Lewis. Of course, when the “genius” is calling plays and abandons the run when it’s obviously working to try and go vertical with McNair or Boller, you lose games.

This one is on a silver platter for the Pats…