Mike Anderson released...

[B-more Ravor]

..... reported on NFL Network ticker and confirmed by Aaron Wilson.

This move creates $1.3M in Cap space.

[festivus]

Mike Anderson, we hardly knew ye'.

It's Brian Bilick's fault. :thumbup:

I wonder if this means some other deal is imminent.

[B-more Ravor]

Probably just house keeping, since he was unlikely to have a role on the team anyway.

But, Musa did play for $1M last year, so this move could accommodate a siimilar one-year deal.

[Losac]

Why would Anderson want to come back? Seemed he signed here thinking he'd be the starter, then he was buried on the depth chart. Always was a big mystery why Billick never played him more.

[HoustonRaven]

Always was a big mystery why Billick never played him more.

It was?

I can give you two reasons why he didnt play -- Jamal Lewis and Willis McGahee.

[AZRAVEN]

Yeah, Jamal was such a force the last year he was in Baltimore. :261695:

[Losac]

It was?

I can give you two reasons why he didnt play -- Jamal Lewis and Willis McGahee.

And Musa Smith? Billick used Smith as a backup runner way more than he used Anderson. Anderson could have come in to give Jamal and McGahee a breather (we all remember how often Jamal needed to suck oxygen on the sidelines), but Billick gave those carries to Musa.

[gusbus52]

Anderson saves 1.3 mil, but I think overall it saves 855,000 due to the rule of 51. An EFA @ 445,000 moves back onto the cap. I think with the Unrealized Incentives Credit we are a little under the salary cap now.

[purplepoe]

Whatever.

Dude would've played if he earned it.

Who re-signed Jamal and then traded for McGahee and gave him a long term deal?

I know some love to blame Billick but we all know who signs and trades for guys.

PP

[RAVENOUS52]

He was definitely under-utilized here and it's always sad to see a fellow Leatherneck leave, but hey, the NFL is a business and our front office is doing what they think is best for the future...No beef with that on my part...

[pyite32]

My only problem with this is that Musa Smith is an Unristricted Free Agent. So we could lose our number 2 and 3 RB's.

On the glass half full side, I wonder if this move was made due to how well Cory Ross played against the Steelers in the last game. With Musa being very injury prone, and Anderson having whatever issue he had last year that they never reported (at least that I heard).

[RavenScallywag]

I think we'll work out a solid deal with Musa...no one will be clamoring to make him a starter, and I'm sure we'll give him decent money to come back as a backup for 1 or 2 years.

[UKRavenStockers]

I'm not sure whether we'll look for Musa or for someone else. He's struggled staying injury free and whilst I still think there's something there, if we like Cory Ross (not saying we do, just putting it out there) we've got the slasher and agile guy, might be an idea to go out and get a pounder and bring in a true, goalline back if we can, Jacob Hester from the draft perhaps? I'd not complain.

[jonboy79]

I'm not sure whether we'll look for Musa or for someone else. He's struggled staying injury free and whilst I still think there's something there, if we like Cory Ross (not saying we do, just putting it out there) we've got the slasher and agile guy, might be an idea to go out and get a pounder and bring in a true, goalline back if we can, Jacob Hester from the draft perhaps? I'd not complain.

You went in a lot of directions, and I think I like them all.
The sum, I believe is this Depth Chart
RB: FB:
Willis McLain
Musa Hester
Ross
Hester

edit, yeah i forgot PJ Daniels... insert him there after Musa... with Ross as the third down back, Musa as the backup, and PJ as the backup's, backup and Hester maybe getting some tough carries, while Willis gets his 80-85% of the carries when healthy. If we do pick up a Hester or another full sized back in the draft, we could probably even skip out on Musa if PJ looks healhty and capable. I think he was a phantom IR last year.

[RavenScallywag]

Only concern with that plan is what happens if McGahee goes down with injury? Cory Ross intrigues me a LOT, but I don't trust him as a starter. Likewise with pretty much any rookie we get. PJ Daniels is also too raw, he hasn't made our team in two years.

Now, one school of thought might say go out and get a street FA (Maybe MA or someone like that who just doesn't get a job through TC). But that's a real risky pick, especially when they don't know our playbook. I think we need someone strong enough to step in during an injury and at least LEAD the RB corps, if not be the starter. Musa seems like he could be that guy, at least the kind to lead the RB corps during an injury. Could be someone else available, but Musa seems like our best fit.

[AZRAVEN]

Unless, of course Musa is the injury, which with his history of injury I wouldn't want to bet against.

[UKRavenStockers]

We also don't necessarily have to get an FA to be our backup. We can get Hester on day two at some point as a luxury guy who can play FB, HB and goalline sets. But this is also a bumper year for backs and you can get guys on day 2 this year who any other year would likely go in round 2, really is a bumper year for backs in the draft.

[HoustonRaven]

Moot thread now ...

According to PFT and NFL Network, Anderson and the Clowns agreed to terms.

Edit: Dont type without coffee .... wrong thread! my bad

[psuasskicker]

But this is also a bumper year for backs and you can get guys on day 2 this year who any other year would likely go in round 2, really is a bumper year for backs in the draft.

No joke. Where you think Marshawn Lynch goes if he came out this year rather than last when he was #15 overall? He'd maybe make the second round?

Tons of good backs in this draft. If Musa goes, too; I'm cool picking someone up day two and letting them play backup.

Honest to God, if McFadden falls to us and we can't find a good trade partner for the pick, I'm perfectly happy with drafting him. Dude's a beast, and there's no question it's a solid idea to have two stud RBs on your team with how often that position sees injury.

- C -

[bmore finest]

Interesting, i didn't know he was on the roster. But i think musa will also not be returning. Injuries will be his downfall. I'm all for Willis doing his thing all season. And his back ups ross will be #2. After that, let P.J. and a late round pick fight it out with about two undrafted RB's in camp. that will be fun to watch.