The NFL running backs have been struggling to secure long-term deals from teams, with the ongoing fears that their physical abilities will break down after just a few years in the competitive landscape of the league. Over time, top-ranking players like Saquon Barkley and Dalvin Cook raised their voices against the discrimination, and the Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry is the latest to join the list.
In a league focused mainly on quarterbacks, running backs are being treated more harshly than ever before. The players in the position are constantly voicing their words for getting at least fair treatment, albeit nothing significant came lately in their favor.
Derrick Henry on the unfair NFL running back position: “Take RB position out of the game”
NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller initiated the debated topic of RBs being undervalued in the league by drawing a common cycle of how the franchises draft an RB, play him, and if he plays well, put a franchise tag on him to move on from him and draft another RB.
Henry couldn’t resist sharing his thoughts on this matter. He took to Twitter to convey his take on this discussion saying the league should take the position out of the games if they can’t ensure fairness and expressed his solidarity with all the RBs struggling to get their value.
At this point , just take the RB position out the game then . The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization , just seems like it don’t even matter . I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve . https://t.co/OgvBWZCKvn
— Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) July 17, 2023
“At this point, just take the RB position out of the game then. The ones that want to be great and work as hard as they can to give their all to an organisation, just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every RBs that’s fighting to get what they want.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers RB also raised his voice with Harris by retweeting his tweet with a long message.
“I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke.”
I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke. https://t.co/rWJkGIEgmW
— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) July 17, 2023
Why running backs are frustrated with NFL?
The NFL league was once built around veteran running backs with their intense competition for winning MVP awards. Star RBs Walter Payton and Barry Sanders led their team to huge success and it was regarded as a premium skill position, albeit the scenario has changed over the last several years.
Running backs are witnessing their values getting diminished, as veterans in the positions are suffering. The four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook was cut by the Minnesota Vikings, and Ezekiel Elliott is still sitting idle in free agency.
Besides this, the RBs are earning very little compared to the other players. According to JPA Football’s Twitter page, the average salary for an NFL RB: is $1.81M while it counts for $2.26M for a kicker.
This is crazy:
Average salary for an NFL RB: $1.81M
Average salary for an NFL Kicker: $2.26M
Playing runningback is a brutal and physical position. They need to be compensated more fairly.
(via @spotrac) pic.twitter.com/gxSzwoePCz
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) July 18, 2023
Alongside facing the fear of cutting down suddenly, some veteran RBs are earning less than rookie RB. The Atlanta Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson is set to earn more than the Pro Bowl nominees Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey. Though, the teams pay newcomers below market value, albeit the rule seemingly changed for the players in this position, leaving them more frustrated ahead of time.
Do you also think that RBs are earning less than what they deserve? Let us know your opinions in the comments section.
