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Report: C.J. Spiller to visit New Orleans Saints on Thursday

By Will Osgood

Aug 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) tackles Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller (28) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) tackles Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller (28) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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Free agent running back C.J. Spiller is set to visit the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. 

Rumors are aplenty at this time of the year. Every team is “in on” every player, and coincidentally not at the same time. Until a visit is set up or a legitimate source says something is happening,  it is best to not heed the rumors.

Free agent running back C.J. Spiller has such a visit scheduled. Adam Schefter reported late Wednesday night that Spiller would be in New Orleans on Thursday to visit with Sean Payton and the Saints.

The Saints already re-signed Mark Ingram–who made his first Pro Bowl this season after the team gave up a first-round pick to acquire him back in the 2011 NFL draft, and did not pick up his option last offseason, which would have kept him from free agency this year.

On Tuesday, the opening day of free agency, I wrote on the rumor that Spiller was being considered by the New England Patriots.

Both teams make sense for Spiller, as both are in need of running backs who excel as receivers out of the backfield. Spiller can do that, while making plays in the running game and return game if asked.

Spiller was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 draft. At the time he was expected to be a bigger, stronger and faster version of Reggie Bush. At times he’s been just that.

After trading Darren Sproles to the Eagles last offseason, the Saints missed a “flex back” who could line up all over the field and create mismatches. The Saints could find that in Spiller.

There have also been rumblings–but again make of that what you like–that the Saints would consider bringing back Reggie Bush–the first pick of the Sean Payton era in 2006 who fell into their laps in the 2006 NFL draft at No. 2 overall.

Bush was instrumental in the Saints’ lone Super Bowl run in 2009.

The Saints, of course, made one of the two biggest splash trades on Tuesday’s opening day of free agency when they gave up All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham for Pro Bowl center Max Unger and the Seahawks’ 2015 first-round draft pick (31st overall).

That move cleared about $2 million in 2015 cap space, but gave the team much needed cap relief in future seasons. And it also set the path to making the Saints more of a balanced attack–one not dependent on one player to make plays in the passing game.

The Saints had free agent cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Brandon Browner in for visits in the first two days of free agency. There is no word yet on the future of either player as it relates to New Orleans or otherwise.

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