Anyone use this? I have a buddy that put this out he said it works pretty good in the winter. Since it grows all winter long.

Winter rye, is the cereal rye equivqlent to winter wheat, ie; fall sown for early summer harvest. It tends to need less fertilizer than wheat and is more cold tolerant. Here in MN, it's used a lot, because it's one of the first plants to green up in the spring.

neighbor of mine plants every year

I find no difference in wheat, rye and oats. Wheat is generally the cheapest and they all work about the same.