The Free Agency Guide to C.J. Spiller

Year	G	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD
2012	16	207	1244	6	6	43	459	10.7	2
2013	15	202	933	2	4.6	33	185	5.6	0
2014	9	78	300	0	3.8	19	125	6.6	1

C.J. Spiller took his first carry of the game, cut to the left and outraced the Minnesota Vikings defense for 53 yards before being tripped up on the left sideline. The explosive play was just what the Buffalo Bills needed after losing starter Fred Jackson to injury.

But something was wrong when he fell. Spiller writhed in agony after a seemingly innocuous tackle. His clavicle had shattered as he fell on his shoulder. The devastating injury knocked him out for eight weeks, and he was ineffective upon his return.

It was a microcosm of the promise and brokenness that has been Spiller's career, one bright spot followed by disappointment and ruin. His fractured 2014 season couldn't have come at a worse time with his contract running out.

The running back position has become passé in free agency, victimized by passing proliferation, committee approaches and a shorter shelf life than most others.

Numbers Never Lie, Stats Are for Losers

Once dripping with potential, Spiller's production has run dry.

Despite his woes over the past two seasons, the former Clemson star has managed to hang onto a career average of five yards per carry in the NFL. There are a myriad of reasons for that decline, however.

For starters, running mate Fred Jackson was the proverbial thorn in Spiller's paw. After his breakout season in 2012, Spiller was supposed to be the next big thing. Buffalo's new head coach had other plans.

Instead of handing over the reins of the running game to the explosive running back, rookie head coach Doug Marrone gave then 32-year-old Fred Jackson a heavy workload in 2013.

Jackson's relative effectiveness—he did have a lower rushing average than Spiller in each of the past two seasons, but lowered expectations have a way of putting polish on a rundown pair of shoes—stiff-armed Spiller's playing time.

To make matters worse, the Bills were one of the worst run-blocking teams in the league over the past couple of seasons. The offense ranked eighth-worst in 2013 and dead last last season according to Pro Football Focus. Football Outsiders was kinder—Buffalo's offensive line ranked 16th in 2013 and 26th last year.

Injuries haven't helped either—aside from the collar bone, Spiller injured his calf in what looked like a nasty knee injury early in 2013, and he hurt his ankle soon after that. 

Spiller hasn't simply been a victim of circumstance, though. 

His rating over at PFF during that fantastic 2012 season was 23.4, good for second in the league. He had -7.8 and -5.9 ratings in each of the past two seasons, respectively.

The poor ratings aren't without reason—Spiller showed flashes of his potential, but he didn't do himself many favors on the field. Tentative at the line at times, easy to bring down at others, it seemed like Spiller had his talent transfused to DeMarco Murray.

Simply put, Spiller has done almost nothing to help his offensive line or his coaches. Injuries have certainly had something to do with it, but good health hasn't been of much help on the field.

What Social Media is Saying

Here is what social media has said about Spiller over the past few months.

"

Spiller is a space back really, best suited to be part of a rotation. He's not as young as you'd think though.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) January 17, 2015"

Free Agency Looms

For his part, Spiller has not-so-subtly hinted that he would like to be back in Buffalo. Here is what Spiller said on The Aftermath on NFL Network during the postseason, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra:

"

It strikes me well. That's what I love to do is run the football. And Rex, that is what he's known for, running the football, being physical, playing that hard-nosed football. I'm excited about it. This is a great opportunity for us to get this thing turned around. We ended this season on a 9-7 record, now it's just time to build on that and get into the playoffs.

"

He recently said he would like to stay in Buffalo outright, according to BuffaloBills.com writer Chris Brown.

Given Ryan's propensity to pound the rock, it's no wonder Spiller is excited about a potential return. But the Bills may not feel the same way, which would free Spiller to fly elsewhere.

The New York Jets seem like a likely destination—Spiller's effusive praise of their offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, has sprouted rumors he might sign there.

Other teams that could use a running back include the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, depending on whether some of those teams re-sign players.

What if the past couple of seasons can truly be explained away by injuries, bad blocking and poor coaching? What if Spiller is capable of averaging six yards per carry again?

These are questions the Bills and other teams will be asking themselves about the 27-year-old dormant dynamo. Perhaps he was a flash in the pan, but that potential is going to be worth something to someone.

How much money that puts in Spiller's pockets in a bear market is another question. Given the past couple of seasons, he might be in for a rude awakening come March 10.

Follow @AlexMiglio