Sports - Pancake Blocks: Green in Houston

It wasn't a particularly good idea for Houston to sign Ahman Green to a four-year contract. Gary Kubiak needed some stability, but he should be building an explosive running game for the future. Now he'll feel obligated to give half of his touches to an average 30-year-old running back who faded badly at the end of last year. The move only makes sense if he limits Green's touches under 225 or so.

For Green, though, it was a great idea to sign with Houston pronto. There are simply too many running back options around the league right now and not enough starting jobs. Lamont Jordan could hit the market this week, probably displacing Travis Henry as the top UFA available. A few talented runners will get caught without a starting chair when the music stops. Here's a list of who's available ...

Travis Henry
Jamal Lewis
Corey Dillon
Dominic Rhodes
Chris Brown
Ron Dayne
Willis McGahee (trade)
Thomas Jones (trade)
Lamont Jordan (possible)

Here are the teams who need a starting running back

Baltimore
Green Bay
Cleveland
Denver

Here are teams who may need a starter depending on further transactions

Buffalo
Oakland

Here are teams looking for a committee member

Giants
Jets
Titans?
Eagles?

I figure two of the starting jobs will go to Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. With a solid rookie class, guys like Tony Hunt, Brian Leonard, Michael Bush, and Antonio Pittman should get drafted high and earn backup jobs.

The best gig out there is in Denver, with Baltimore and Green Bay not too far behind. The Broncos seem intent on settling for now on a Travis Henry-type, then probably augmenting the position in the draft. Throw in Mike Bell and it will be a good competition. But before any of that happens, the competition just to land running back jobs will be fierce.

I'm runing on fumes after my quick yet eventful trip to LaLa. Driving to the airport in dark, eerily empty streets of west Los Angeles at 4:20 AM this morning was one of the highlights. At least I was riding in style. I knew the trip would go well when the lady at the rental car place told me I could choose any car I wanted in section one of their garage. Section one was filled with 15 P.T. Cruisers, all different colors. I went with Opal Metallic. Although I can't know for sure since I'm color blind.

Green in Houston

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