Chargers running back Austin Ekeler saw the writing on the wall. As he watched some of the best at his position contemplate their options under a franchise tag, he knew he could be dealing with the same issues next offseason. He made an attempt to remedy the situation but ended up finding out just how dire his prospects were. Now, with none of the league’s rushers finding an effective solution in their own negotiations, it appears they’ve decided to put their heads together in an attempt to get the contracts they deserve. 
It started on Monday, when, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, some of the league’s veteran rushers organized a group text in which they would brainstorm strategies for improving their grim outlooks. One of the first initial strategies has been the utilization of social media.
While, on its surface, that sounds superficial and unproductive, it’s really hard to fix a problem if no one acknowledges it. When players go on social media to talk about their issues with the system, especially during a relatively down news cycle, media pundits will pick up their calls and magnify them. Not only that, but it also sparks debate between the analysts of the sport, who tend to present and argue both sides, helping to delineate the most useful points of contention and possible solutions.
To grow their efforts past a group text, the running backs have also planned a Zoom meeting, set for tonight, in order to further discussions, according to Florio. The meeting has been organized by Ekeler and will reportedly involve the NFL Players Association in some capacity. It’s a little difficult for the NFLPA to advise too much, considering that, in a league where value is determined within a salary cap that all positions share, the money to pay running backs has to be taken away from other positions that are also being represented by the Players Association. That being said, they can still likely offer some sound negotiating techniques and potential solutions. They can also potentially serve as a sounding board to offer opinions on the viability of different options.
Ultimately, the group will likely have to continue to take the situation into their own hands, as they’re negotiating only for themselves. They may suggest a shortening of the path to free agency to keep running backs from spending their premier years on a measly rookie deal. Former NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth suggested a more concentrated utilization of the league’s Performance-Based Pay Pool, an approximately $336MM fund used to reward players whose high-levels of play are not reflected in their paychecks. Foxworth suggested that, essentially, running backs could pad their depressed contracts by meeting certain performance and playing time benchmarks.
Regardless, the group and the league have at most a year before the situation rears its ugly head again. The three backs that are playing on franchise tags this year, Saquon Barkley on the Giants, Josh Jacobs on the Raiders, and Tony Pollard on the Cowboys, will all head back to free agency after this season. So, too, will the Titans’ Derrick Henry, the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, the Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins, the Commanders’ Antonio Gibson, Ekeler, and many others. With so many major contributors set to hit the market, a determination will soon have to be made on how to compensate these rushers for what they bring to their respective teams.
Drop rookie contract to 3 years no tag for rbs
Alternatively, have hands and still be paid a kings ransom.
That won’t fix the issue, they will just make less money overall in their careers.
It was over once Bell, Zeke, and Gurley hecked up the whole market and teams realized that the line makes more of a difference than the RB.
Tell that to the likes of Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Parton, Gale Sayers, Bo Jackson, LaDanian Tomlinson and Eric Dickerson. Jim Brown is still considered by anyone who knows anything about football to be one of the five greatest players of all time despite position.
The sport is nothing like those days and you know that…
And I used to be four feet tall, but guess what? Things change. I had to buy new clothes…
Jim brown isn’t top 5 at his own position let alone ‘universally a top 5 player despite position’ let’s be real here. He wouldn’t be a top 10 back in todays NFL.
@MCIB
Jim brown is top 5 assaulters in NFL history at RB for sure.
Can’t dispute that fact.
Honestly, that seems like the simplest solution. It could benefit backs, but maybe benefit teams more. The thing is, this argument goes both ways-on one hand, teams aren’t going to offer these huge contracts and then get bitten in the rear after the back breaks down after two seasons. On the other, talented backs aren’t going to continue to stick their necks out for teams if they feel slighted. As much as the league is transitioning to a pass playground, a great and/or durable back is perhaps not as valuable as he once was. In a seventeen game season, teams need multiple backs as is. Does that mean that the top two or three backs will be even more valuable? Possibly. But the position as a whole? Probably not.
So you can feel for some of these guys-Jacobs, in particular-but some others, like Barkley, you shake your head. They’re not in the same situation, despite playing the same position. Barkley was not far off from the Giants’ offer, and has had major injury issues already in his short career. Jacobs could have been retained on a fifth year option, has had to deal with possibly being let go until he led the league in rushing (in a year where the Raiders seemed to want to run him into the ground before disposing of him), and has not had the issues that Barkley has injury-wise (which should make anyone nervous in negotiating a long term deal).
Shorter rookie deals would be simpler, and may work. I think just having more guaranteed money (at smaller rates) would be better for these guys. I doubt that today’s athletes would ever accept that in lieu of the “respect” that comes with a large number, but ultimately hollow, megadeal.
if u want RBs to get drafted 5th round/4th round reach , then that’s a good solution
Why? Teams are adhering to the the CBA. To bad the RB position is not held as high regard as they would want them to be. But it’s within the rules.
There is no problem. Only for the RB’s. Are the CB’s or D ends going to want to take smaller contracts in order for the RB’s to get more money. I think not.
Only if there contracts are not guaranteed. Then incentives can be added. And if they perform poorly or injured… they get nothing. Pick your poison
I agree. That’s what I’m saying-I don’t really know what the solution is, here. We can shrug and say, “Well, that’s market value” and that would be the truth. However, it will diminish the quality of running back play across the league further if all of these guys are seriously disgruntled. On the other hand, it just isn’t smart business to give them these contracts that they want. There’s a lot of reality that they need to face, but how do we acknowledge that while also preserving their value to the game?
Like I said, there are certain ones that I can understand a little why they’re upset. There are others who I just can’t get. The only fair change that I can think of is make the contracts lower in value and more guaranteed. There’s not any solution that makes the players more valuable without changing the rules of the game to favor rushers, which will not happen. Right now, they’re just not as valuable as they once were. And, furthermore, some of them are getting good offers. Not all, but some. I’m just trying to figure what exactly they want done.
The obvious question is how a RB is designated coming out. Almost every college player will want to qualify as a RB. The tag has issues enough with designations – this would be a nightmare.
once again, why would a team use a day 1 or 2 pick on a guy you can only sign to a 3 year rookie contract?
RBs would start going 4th round and get even less money up front
this too
Only so much money to go around. You got your QB making 35-50mil. You got OL maki y 5-15mil, and you got WR making 8-15mil.
Most of the recent SB winners haven’t had a consistent workhorse or even a house hold name at RB.
Most recent super bowl winners average paying their leading rusher like 1.35 million a year, just furthering your point, and just look at how many names this article mentions at the end, that’s literally why the market is depressed there’s infinite available above average backs and more join the league every year….watch minnesota have a 7th round rookie rush for 1000 this year, paying him 15$ an hour or something
Keep in mind that any/all changes to contract structure have to be done through the CBA. Wonder how willing players at other positions that generally hold less value (safety, center, lb..) will feel about giving something up in negotiations to only help these “poor” RBs. In the end, your value is what someone is willing to pay you. With few exceptions, teams use a rb by committee approach. Thus, take those former top RB deals and split them in half. That’s about your value.
Running backs aren’t valued thanks to decades of statistical data that shows they simply aren’t that valuable and have a tremendously short “prime” window. Unless a player brings something special or unique to the position, like CMAC on the 9ers, they simply aren’t worth the cap space. The offensive line is much, much more important to the run game. If these guys want to get paid a premium, they should play a premium position. The fact they are holding the ball is sort of irrelevant.
Josh Jacobs had over 2,000 yds from scrimmage last year, 12 TDs and 53 receptions. You think that’s just “holding the ball”, and not “valuable”?? Lol
Good thing you’re not a real GM
So that’s one, out of…???
You can say the same about WRs, right?
And Jacobs will probably never reach those heights again, and odds are he’s out of football within 2-3 years.
Thats what they said last year. Jacobs has been an excellent playmaker since he was drafted. This whole “its not a premium position” thing is dumb. He is a premium player and has more yards and receptions than many WRs. Now what?
You poor guys. I have parkinson’s and live on $4000 a month. I would play for 500000 a year. Even though my sixty year-old body is beaten up.
I think you and I would certainly play for less. Not sure how much we’d be worth, but definitely wouldn’t complain.
Want more money? Stay productive past 30.
Market is the way it is cause teams have been burned hard on rb contracts. Gurley, Elliot, Bell in recent memory.
Only real solution is the NFL stepping in messsing with things.
For instance dictating a rule that running backs can’t carry the ball more than 200 times a season citing “player safety” or something in the hopes of pro longing careers.
The ncaa might be more likely to implement this rule, say 150 attempts a season, so guys aren’t jumping to the league with a ton of mileage on them already.
Alternatively, running backs should haggle for more incentives in their contracts.
Yards
Catches
TDs
Picking up blitzes
However you want to quantify it.
They should be seeking more incentives in a contract to at least double the money. Maybe yhey already do but I’d bet they seek more guaranteed money and rebuff offers for incentives in contracts. But if you can get a 5 years 5 mill a season contract or 4 mill and incentives can double the money its better than 1 or 2 year deals if that
Base salary of 5 mill but incentives can push it to 10 mill or something.
Team benefits by running back reaching incentives.
Alternatively if running back is injured team doesn’t pay out the incentives protecting them in case of injury.
Have them not catch the ball, or pay them like WRs.
Doesn’t matter about their group text, it’s in the contract.
Stop paying QBs like Daniel Jones $30M … that is to say: salary shouldn’t be as position based as it’s become.
That’s also not meant to demean any position; simple put: it should be player-based not position.
Sticking with Jones:
if anyone thinks he takes NYG to the SB, there’s a piece of property connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn I’d like to offer you … at a family discount
You got my name wrong. Also, I’m not a reporter as I have no sources. I’m just a failed lawyer pretending to be a journalist through plagiarism. I also have no accomplishments in life through value or merit.
You have to understand that this is bad for the future of the NFL. Currently top athletes in high school and college play RB because it’s a high profile position….that’s where they are highlighted. They get the ball and the spotlight is on them. But kids aren’t going to want to play the position if they think there is bigger pay days down the road by playing other positions with far less wear and tear on their bodies. Parents of elite athletes will say…no effing way is my son going to put himself at risk for your program by playing RB when there isn’t a huge pay day coming. my Johnny is gonna take his talents to a place and position where he doesn’t have to take that beating and increase his chances of making more money in the future. RBs are going to become less and less athletic and skilled and in 10 years time you’re not going to have enough talent coming out of college to even bother having anyone line up in the backfield.
There’s plenty of talent
The position (RB) has multiple requirements in modern games.
Traditional – Carry the ball and run
Hybrid – Carry the ball and run / Catch passes and yards after catch (YAC)
Trips – Carry the ball and run / Catch passes and YAC / Kickoff and/or Punt Returner
This is where the multiusable player shows value to the progression of the team.
RBs are frequently injured as they are tackled by a group verses WR/TE usually 1-2 tacklers.
LB and DL are valued for sacks and run defense, in which sacks are a ‘unit’ attribute normally.
OL for blocking and minimum number of penalties
WR / TE for receptions / YAC and TDs
DBs for passes defenses and interceptions
QB – knowing all offensive players responsibilities and ball distributing / TDs / interceptions / fumbles
I think their point is valid within the ‘load and usage’ they shoulder, the abuse taken, the position morphing into more than historical ‘take the ball and run’.
Eklers contributions to the Chargers is as important as any other ‘skill’ – misused moniker – offensive player on the team. Led the league and team in TDs or been in the top level yet never reaching 10 mil. CMC is a pinch faster maybe a bit stronger yet twice the salary.
Possible solutions – change the positions designation relative to job ability – like the older ‘scat back’ term.
Or have the CBA impose a position salary range.
Don’t know if there is a solution but it’s good to see unity within the group in a peaceful sort of protest!
The game model has changed through the implementation of rules favoring passing over running but it could always be tweaked again to create a better balance. That would restore some financial value to the RB position. My 6 year old grandson had an even simpler solution…play the game with two balls.
2 balls? There’s should be 2 on every player
Seriously tho that’d be hilarious as ‘game officials’ have difficulty managing a game with 1, two would make their job more comedic
The fans and the media will always bootlick the owners and the team long before the players, especially runningbacks so it’s going to be tough for them to win the PR battle.
Ekeler signed his last contract, seemed a lowball deal at the time and now he’s complaining about it.
Maybe make the best deal at the time, and don’t roll over. When your 28-30 and the decline is real, ain’t the time to be complaining about it.
Maybe they should take John Kerry’s advice and learn how to “make solar panels.” First-world problems
Play a different position with more value….or quit football, I guess.
Everyone is already aware “veteran” RB’s aren’t getting big contracts. It’s just a matter of whether it’s unfair or not. Bottom line is, a veteran running back at $10mil isn’t offering substantially more than a running back on a rookie contract. It’s become a replaceable position, and the market now reflects that.
If a market is having to be lifted artificially for a particular position, maybe the market isn’t the problem.
The RBs are forming a group and using social media to protest how underpaid and unappreciated they are? The kickers around the league must find that hilarious because they have been in that place themselves forever.
It’s ashame; however, with a Cap … I can see the reasoning. Plus, most RB’s just don’t have durability (not all). With the QB salaries where they are headed … everyone will be taking a pay cut.