Everyone in the Buffalo Bills Mafia would be doing cart wheels while in flames if the team added running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. The wet dream of Alvin Kamara taking it the distance wearing the Buffalo on his bonnet. It seems like the Bills have been trying to land a running back that can catch the ball out of the back field for a few seasons. In the off-season they thought they had a deal hammered out with Commanders running back J.D McKissic. McKissic would head back to the nation’s capital. Bills right before the end of the trade deadline might have solved their problem landing Colts running back Nyheim Hines. Hines is a shifty back that can run and catch the ball out of the back field. Bills get rid of junk in the trunk and send Indianapolis running back Zack Moss and a 6th round pick in 2023. The Hines deal is small potatoes compared to landing a McCaffrey or Kamara. This trade could be very savvy by the Bills as it’s low risk with a high ceiling type of move.

Nyheim Hines is 25 years old and has played 5 seasons in the NFL, all with the Colts. The Colts offense this season has played poorly. Hines has played in 7 games and his numbers are not off the charts like in some years. Hines has 18 rushes for a meager 36 yards with a touchdown. Out of the back field, Hines has caught 25 balls for 188 yards. Those numbers are not going to spice up my Buffalo wings. Let’s remember Matt Ryan’s failures in a Colts uniform this year behind center. Career numbers Hines has rushed the rock 300 times for 1,205 rushing yards with ten touchdowns. Then add 235 catches for 1,725 yards with 7 receiving touchdowns. All this done in 72 games which counts for 17 touchdowns. Now you have Josh Allen as your quarterback.

Thurman Thomas was the best running back in Bills history. Thomas could do everything as a back from blocking, rushing the ball and catching the ball out of the back field. He made a very nice security blanket for Jim Kelly back in the 1990’s. Bills featured back “The Motor” Devin Singletary is averaging 4.5 yards per carry which is pretty good. Singletary can catch the ball out of the back field but Hines can make things happen when he catches the ball. You would love to combine both backs’ talents like some Frankenstein experiment as one elite running back. Singletary is a better runner in between the tackles than Hines is. Hines would be more valuable if anything happened to Singletary than Zack Moss who just a bruiser back gets you those tough short yards. I picture Hines as more like back up running backs of the past that were very productive behind Thurman Thomas. Ronnie Harmon in the early years of that Buffalo team that went to 4 straight Superbowls. One of my favorite running backs of all-time nicknamed the Texas Twister, Kenneth Davis, who helped the Bills win some big games backing up the Thurmanator.

Zack Moss becomes expendable because the Bills have high hopes for rookie James Cook. Moss had some fumble issues in his three year stay in Buffalo. Moss out of Utah University finished his Buffalo chapter with 225 rushes, & 917 yards with 8 touch downs. This season Moss only carried the ball 17 times for 91 yards as he was hardly being used so it made sense to unload him. Cook or Josh Allen probably get you the tough yards on short yardage plays. Nyheim Hines will be that double threat so defenses can’t predict if the play will be only a pass when he checks into the game. Hines will be valuable in goal line situations and short yard situations. Hines gives Josh Allen another play maker on the field and a security blanket at the same time. Hines could bring huge chunks of yardage to the table on the simple screen pass. Bills General Manager, Brandon Beane, added another missile to Buffalo’s offense that can create some Van Damage to opposing defenses. Could the Bills also add the dog Odell Beckham Jr. to the mix? That could be the cherry on the Mafia’s Sunday.