One of my favorite characters in "Game of Thrones" once said, "Good counsel means telling hard truths." Philadelphia Eagles fans may not want to hear it or believe it, but there is a small possibility that running back LeSean McCoy may have to be sacrificed for the good of the franchise.
McCoy will count just south of $12 million against the salary cap in 2015, according to OverTheCap.com. Only Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has a higher cap hit at the position.
While it's a longshot that McCoy will be released, the remote possibility still exists. McCoy has stated previously he is not interested in taking a pay cut and Philly will have a tricky time re-signing free agent receiver Jeremy Maclin and others with so much money allotted to one position.
McCoy struggled at times playing behind an injured offensive line this season. His numbers - 1,319 yards on 312 carries (4.2 average) and five touchdowns - didn't match his other worldly totals of years past, but they were still above average.
So what will Philly ultimately decide to do?
"I don't think McCoy is going anywhere," Sheil Kapadia of Phillymag.com wrote. "He's still a productive player, and the Eagles do not have a suitable replacement for him on the team right now. The run game is the foundation of the offense, and getting rid of the best ball-carrier makes no sense.
"The best veterans on your roster are going to take up the most cap space. That's just how it works. But it's worth noting that McCoy's cap hit drops to a more manageable $8.85M in 2016 and $7.85M in 2017."
Backup running back Darren Sproles is under contract for two more years, though he will turn 32 in June and is not an every down type of player. With a lack of legitimate replacements, the Eagles may have to just bite the financial bullet and trim roster fat as best they can to pay McCoy while retaining key free agents.
