Buffalo Bills 2000s All-Decade Team: Running Backs
by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 10:30 AM EDT
in Buffalo Bills History
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PrintThe Buffalo Bills have had very few Pro Bowlers since 2000, but the running back group packs a punch in that regard. Three of the five players on the list went to a Pro Bowl in a Bills uniform, and another went the year after he was traded away. The running back position has been supremely talented in Buffalo over the course of the last decade.
We're reserving two spots for running backs and fullbacks to be included. Today, vote for your favorite back. We'll take out the top vote getter and run a new poll to decide the second running back so everyone gets to have their say on both guys they want.
Larry Centers
Larry Centers was a fullback in the NFL, but you might not know it by looking at his statistics. With Buffalo in 2001 and 2002, Centers rushed for only 216 yards on 45 attempts and four touchdowns. Centers wasn't known for his lead blocking, either. Instead, Centers caught 123 passes in his two years for 1,008 yards and two touchdowns. In 2001, he was named to the Pro Bowl after snaring 80 of those receptions.
Travis Henry
Henry was on the team longer than any other running back on the list - four seasons from 2001-2004. In his years in Buffalo, he rushed 963 times for 3,849 yards and 27 touchdowns, tops on the team for the decade. He caught 103 balls for 691 yards and two more touchdowns, and was selected to the 2002 Pro Bowl. After the Bills selected Willis McGahee, Henry became expendable and injury issues forced the Bills to trade the bruiser to the Titans.
Willis McGahee
Despite a severe knee injury in his final college game, the Bills took McGahee in the first round of the 2003 draft and sat him down for a year to recover from surgery. When McGahee came back healthy, the Bills were rewarded for their faith, and he posted back-to-back thousand-yard seasons in 2004 and 2005 before narrowly missing the mark in '06. After that, the unhappy McGahee was shipped to Baltimore for a pair of third round picks. In his three years in Buffalo, he rushed 868 times for 3,365 yards and 24 touchdowns, all second on the team for the decade. He added 68 receptions for 503 yards.
Fred Jackson
Jackson's first carry for the Bills came in 2007 after his much-discussed path from Coe College. In his three seasons, he has 1,933 yards on 425 carries for a clip of 4.5 yards per attempt, tops among Bills backs during the decade. He topped 1,000 rushing yards in 2009 when he took over for Marshawn Lynch as the featured back. He has rushed for only five touchdowns, but boasts a passing touchdown, 105 receptions for 878 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 56 kick returns for 1,241 yards. In 2009, he led the league in all-purpose yards with 2,516, the fourth-highest total in league history.
Marshawn Lynch
Lynch was drafted No. 12 overall in 2007. In his three seasons in Buffalo, he has amassed 2,601 rushing yards on 650 attempts and scored 17 rushing touchdowns. He's averaged 4.0 yards per rushing attempt, and has a long run of 56 yards while topping 1,000 yards twice. Lynch has adequate hands and has pulled in 93 receptions for 663 yards and one touchdown, and he's also thrown a touchdown pass. In 2008, Lynch made his Pro Bowl debut after being called on as an alternate. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2009 season after being caught with a gun illegally and also plead guilty to hitting a Canadian woman in the summer of 2008.
Now it's your turn to vote on who was the best Bills running back of the decade. Feel free to leave your rationale in the comments section.Previous Installments: QB
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if this was the qb poll, it would be easy to make a “because there really are no winners in this group” joke.
by quantumuprising on May 4, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Matt’s clearly had this in draft for way too long, as the poll closed on March 13. So, note to Matt – change all your polls on future posts.
This poll should be open now.
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by Brian Galliford on May 4, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I was going to open it but I didn’t know if there was some reason I wasn’t aware of to leave it closed.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
NO VOTING FOR YOU
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by Brian Galliford on May 4, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I voted Henry, billion children, coke addiction and all.
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by Brian Galliford on May 4, 2010 10:43 AM EDT reply actions
A loser in his personal life, but on the field, hands-down our best RB.
"A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you." Marv Levy.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on May 4, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Same here. Freddie has had one good season and Marshawn has had two good seasons. McGahee did good but in the end was kinda a jerk. I always liked Travis and how hard he ran.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Marshawn has had two good seasons
To be fair Travis really only had 2 good seasons – they were just a lot better than Marshawns. I also voted for Travis.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
by poz on May 4, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted McGahee
He put up similar numbers to Henry on a team that was much worse and had zero passing attack.
and freddy looks so gangsta.
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by JPH on May 4, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Henry was the best
but i voted Fred cuz i love him, and givin the chance he could have a lot better stats, and he is a better person than all of them
"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-
Travis Henry was the man..........on the field........
and apparently “the man” off the field……………..except for when it came time to take care of his MANLY DADDY duties…….
but alas…..I’ll judge just based on production on the field………thus Henry is the run away winner IMO.
He was a pretty bad-arse runner for us………Who knows how things would have turned out with him had McGahee not been drafted.
"If we can put four quarters together, that's the objective. Let's see how somebody else feels playing from behind." (TWCS)
by norcaliangelsfan on May 4, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
He would have gotten suspended...
for faild drug tests, like eventually happaned anyways. He was the best back we’ve had in the last 10 yeats, but i think the organization knew about his drug problem and that’s the real reason they drafted McGahee and sent him packing.
"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby. That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to show you the baby, and the baby is winning." - Buddy Nix
Willis --Here's Why:
1. he gave me a shout out at the ’03 opener vs New England ( I was yelling his name and he threw the peace sign)
2. I literally rolled off my couch when the Bills picked him
3. He was an absolute beast at the U
4. He put up some sick numbers during that winning streak in ’04.
5. I like the name Willis.
"It took twenty five years to get there, and they did it in championship style" - Van Miller 1/20/91.
What you talkin’ ’bout?
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
so 4 of your 5 reasons have absolutely nothing to do with his in-game performance in a bills uniform and the one that does is only during a stretch of games?
what are you talking about?
its marshawn — heres why:
1) he can do a back flip
2) he has a golden smile
3) he has glorious dreadlocks
4) if we put him outside the galleria, less canadian people would go and take the good parking spots
5) he can occasionally go into beast mode
McGahee almost single-handedly got the Bills to the playoffs in 04, that alone got him my vote.
Who the heck voted for Centers?
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Agreed.
This is why I voted McGahee. He played like a man possessed. Him and Bledsoe were a good combo, kept teams off balanced.
He played like a man trying to get out of NFL prison.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on May 4, 2010 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought about going FB and RB but instead I’m gonna do two RBs and include him.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
What does that mean?
You’re picking the two RB’s with the most votes here for your team?
I think you should do two separate posts for positions with multiple players, but that’s just me.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
We are. I just scheduled it if you want to take a look. :-)
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the defense almost singlehandedly got that team to the playoffs
Considering all the turnovers they were forcing. During the late season 6 game winning streak, that D forced a ridiculous 26 turnovers, and allowed less than 10 points three times. They also allowed over 275 yards just once during that stretch. McGahee averaged under 4.0 ypc that season.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
well said K
was going to post that myself.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
by poz on May 4, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
McGahee
I was always a bigger Henry fan than McGahee and thought it was a slap in the face when we drafted him right after Henry’s best season BUT McGahee simply did more in less time here in Buffalo. Also IMO the team McGahee played for was a little worse than the team Henry did. McGahee was a jerk but on the football field he was the better man
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
how did McGahee do more in less time?
In the three full seasons they both almost played Henry finished with more rushing yards, more rushing touchdowns, more receiving yards, more receptions, more receiving touchdowns and had a better yards per carry.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
by poz on May 4, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
keep in mind that was over 4 years as the starter and mcgahee did it in only 3. Also I would say Henry had the better line and team than McGahee did. You give McGahee one more season as the starter he would have passed Henry in just about every category barring injury
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
no no
all those things that I listed for Henry I listed only from his three seasons in which he really carried the rock I didnt even add his fourth season. Im not talking about his last season in which he only rushed 90 some times in this analysis and I still had better numbers in all those categories in the same amount of time.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
I still had better numbers
sigh, one can only wish I guess. Henry still had better numbers haha
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
haha
yes what a great feeling it would be to play in just one nfl game…..anyways i did not realize that you werent including the last year but if thats the case then i switch my vote to henry haha i liked him better anyways i just thought mcgahee was the better man until your argument flipped my position 1 point awarded to you sir
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
Travis Henry
I was sad to see him leave. It was really a bad situation there.
If I only had a brain...
by Schooled You on May 4, 2010 11:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I voted for Travis Henry...
I did enjoy watching Larry Centers play. The man had heart and it showed. Off topic, sort of, but one of my favorites BEFORE this was Kenneth Davis – he was electric!!
Love those Bills but we're tired of losing......
Travis Henry all day. Never forget the game he ran with a broken leg. That sums it up for me. We screwed him by drafting McGahee IMO. He was a pretty darn good back for us. Granted Willis ran awesome that first two years… but I was always a fan of Henry. Even tho the off-field stuff was real bad… he was still the best RB we’ve had this decade.
"You cant teach speed." - Welcome to Buffalo CJ Spiller
09-10 Sabres: Good season, disappointing ending. Lets have next year be THE year!!
Willis ran well until he decided he didn’t really need to hit a hole hard. He’s one that seemed to regress a little bit – he would just dance too much. I understand that the line was pretty bad at the time, but you’d think that would make him jump at the first spot he saw rather than wait for something better.
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I almost voted Henry, because talent wise I think he is the best. I just can’t get past the off field stuff though even though I know that’s not what this is about. McGahee is a jerk. Period. Lynch hasn’t shown enough yet, and may not if he continues down his path. I loved Centers, but unfortunately at fullback the numbers as a runningback just aren’t there. Therefore I picked Jackson. He’s just a great story. And with him being an underdog, I feel he really fits what it means to be a Bill.
If Darwin was right, Mike Tyson would have evolved. - Ted Nugent.
Voted "Action" Jackson
If only we could have played him right off the bat…Oh, off the top of anyone’s head, does anyone know who we ended up picking for the Willis trade(s)?
"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "I've never seen a jockey carry a horse across the finish line"-Joe D.
by BigEasyBillsKrewe on May 4, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions
We traded one of the picks for Marcus Stroud. We used the 2007 draft picks on Trent Edwards and CJ Ah You.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted for Henry
His off the field issues are unfortunate, thankfully most of his problems came to light, after he left the Bills.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
easily Travis Henry
The guy was a beast for 2 seasons, putting up almost 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns twice. Its not a shocker that the winning guy is another Bledsoe era player. I’ll say what I said in the QB poll, I enjoyed the Bledsoe years because our offense was exciting.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
i too loved the bledsoe years
the offense was exciting and at least we had multiple pro bowl players
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
multiple pro bowl players
its been a while huh? There is definitely more of a sense of hope when you have more Pro Bowlers, whether or not the Pro Bowl is a gauge of all star talent.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
yeah to me it means you have a few more allstars and game changers, but more recently it’s started to become a popularity contest especially the positions people don’t really pay a lot of attention to best example would be Jason Peters being voted to his 2nd pro bowl (he def. didn’t deserve that)
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
Travis Henry
by a sizable margin. He had the two best seasons of the decade, and was an absolute beast behind a terrible OL.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
I’ve been surprised by the landslides so far. People are voting for the best player and not just their favorite guys. It’s refreshing actually. It’s going to get interesting on the second RB, OL guys, etc.
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure the OL voting will be "interesting"
Excruciating, perhaps.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
What about....
Sam Gash? I remember him blowing linebackers out of the whole fondly. Maybe there should be a separate post for the FB’s and hybrid TE’s as a separate position than RB.
Gash only started 10 games for Buffalo in the 2000s. The two Pro Bowl seasons he had here were in ’98 and ’99.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
That season was 2003 BTW. He spent the three years in Baltimore in between.
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by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Ohh, i guess i got my time line screwed up. he was good though, and one of my favorite bills when he played.
I guess the sad part is that with 10 games in the decade, he was by far our best traditional FB of the decade IMO. quite frankly, i cant even name any of the others except McIntosh or Centers.
Im not sure why peope like McGahee so much
he had one good season. Marshawn averaged more yards per carry in his first two seasons than McGahee did in his two best seasons here and he also caught a lot more passes and yards through the air. McGahee wouldn’t even have broken a thousand in his second good season if he hadnt rushed the ball so much, he averaged 3.8 yards per carry. He also only had one good season getting into the endzone, getting 5 and 6 in his other two seasons here in which he played. Add on no touchdowns in the passing game and I think the order is clearly, to me, :
Henry – Lynch – Jackson – McGahee.
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
Me either
I never thought he was all that. And I was astounded that he got drafted 1st round after getting his knee blown up like that. I’ll never forget watching that in the National Championship game. I never thought he’d play again let alone be a 1st round pick the next year.
If Darwin was right, Mike Tyson would have evolved. - Ted Nugent.
I’ll never forget how Fouts reacted to the hit on replay.
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Song recommendation of the week: Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer
"All I care about is Mega-Desk. That is all I care about. Getting. More. Mega-Desk." - Dwight Schrute
by TheAfghanTwilight on May 4, 2010 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted Larry Centers
Just because 3rd and whatever always seemed within reach when He was in the backfield,or as I should say,coming out of the backfield..Not a hard runner,but dam He sure knew how to get open..
Never argue with an Idiot,they'll drag You down to their level and beat You with experience every time..
It was a shame we didnt get him a catch that one game, and thus his streak of consecutive games with a catch was over.
"You cant teach speed." - Welcome to Buffalo CJ Spiller
09-10 Sabres: Good season, disappointing ending. Lets have next year be THE year!!
The Bills have a habit of doing that for players, it seems.
Buffalo Rumblings Premiere League 2009 Champion
Song recommendation of the week: Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer
"All I care about is Mega-Desk. That is all I care about. Getting. More. Mega-Desk." - Dwight Schrute
by TheAfghanTwilight on May 4, 2010 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I had to vote Henry
Fred Jackson is my favorite, but Travis Henry had the ability to take control of a game in the 4th quarter (as long as he wasn’t throwing the football). It’s too bad he went downhill as fast as he ran downhill. I guess you have to applaud the Bills for getting rid of him at his peak.
I have to wonder how great Lynch and Jackson would be with at least a serviceable line in front of them.
Buffalo Rumblings Premiere League 2009 Champion
Song recommendation of the week: Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer
"All I care about is Mega-Desk. That is all I care about. Getting. More. Mega-Desk." - Dwight Schrute
by TheAfghanTwilight on May 4, 2010 5:04 PM EDT reply actions
Henry
A 2000 yard rushing season makes him by far the most productive back that we’ve had in the last decade.
And remember, cocain is a hell of a drug ;-) (sarcasm)
The more I see, the less I know.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 5, 2010 4:03 PM EDT reply actions
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