The Bills cut Fred Jackson, and ordinarily it's not a surprise when 34-year-old running backs are set out on the curb in the NFL. But it sounds like this move was maybe based on other things besides performance.
Jackson, at least, says that the call was GM Doug Whaley's, and not that of Rex Ryan and the coaching staff. Not a huge deal in and of itself, but it can indicate a move made for financial reasons rather than simply keeping the best 53 players.
Jackson was scheduled to make $2.5 million, a decent chunk of change for a backup running back. The Bills have Anthony Dixon, Bryce Brown and rookie Karlos Williams. Jackson probably isn't so much better than any of those players that he was worth keeping around given his salary and wizened, decrepit status.
But it doesn't mean that Jackson can't play, or help fantasy teams. Wherever he signs (Seattle is a possibility) he could be the No. 2 and third-down back. That might give him some value in PPR leagues, while simultaneously hurting the value of another running back, as he's annually done for years and years in Buffalo.
Anyway, Karlos Williams looks like the proper handcuff for LeSean McCoy in Buffalo. And maybe Jackson is the proper handcuff for someone else. He's not necessarily done.
--Andy Richardson