Running back is one position in the NFL that contributes to the team greatly but is paid rather low compared to their worth and output. Since the league’s inception, the rules have not changed, and there is no indication that they will.
With the exception of running backs, every position in the league has seen an increase in monetary worth. It necessitates taking some preventative measures, which some running backs themselves did by setting up a virtual meeting with regard to their contracting market.
NFL star RBs gather via Zoom to discuss the financial condition of the position
Sportac.com estimates that the average wage for running backs is around $1.5 million, with only two backs earning over $8 million each: Adrian Peterson ($13.7 million) and Darren McFadden ($10 million).
Defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and quarterback Lamar Jackson both received sizable contracts this offseason after being franchise tagged. The running backs, though, fall far short of these expectations. Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Shaquon Barkley all acquired the franchise tag from their respective teams this season. Prior to the deadline last Monday, their team was unable to reach long-term agreements, and only Pollard was willing to sign his tender.
These have turned into significant setbacks and bad circumstances for many young athletes who want to play running back in the league. The NFL authorities and the team management have not yet found a solution. When more than seven running backs engaged in a Zoom meeting on Saturday to talk about their falling market value, that was a sign that the athletes were trying to take matters into their own hands.
The running back for the Cleveland Browns, Nick Chubb, claimed that because they have been hampered by the system for so long, they are not to blame for their misfortune.
“Right now, there’s really nothing we can do,” Chubb said Sunday. “We’re kind of handcuffed with the situation. We’re the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they’re going to say, you’re probably worn down. It’s tough. … It hurts us at the end of the day.”
List of the RBs that attended Saturday’s Zoom call to discuss their market decline
According to reports, Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers planned to set up a meeting with the top running backs in the league to go over the problem he highlighted on the “Rich Eilens’ show.”
The fact that Ekeler is in the final year of his contract, but still did not see a positive resolution from the Browns regarding his agreement despite having 1,500+ scrimmage yards each of the previous two seasons, disappointed him.
“The trend right now is not to pay running backs, so everyone is like ‘OK, we don’t have to do it either then. Whether it’s right, wrong, or indifferent, it is what it is,” Austin said.
Source: List of the RBs that attended Saturday's Zoom call to discuss their declining market.#Giants Saquon Barkley#Titans Derrick Henry#Raiders Josh Jacobs#Colts Jonathan Taylor#49ers Christian McCaffrey#Cowboys Tony Pollard#Browns Nick Chubb#Steelers Najee Harris… https://t.co/72L4gMvbYa pic.twitter.com/Tn61qC8uua
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 23, 2023
Saquon Barkley, JK Dobbins, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, Nick Chub, Jonathon Taylor, and Christian McCaffrey joined Ekler to issue a warning to the league on Saturday. Even though there was no final resolution found in the meeting, it could still serve as a blow to the team management and the NFL as a whole.
Ekeler took the effort to bring about a change when Najee Harrus, Ekeler, Henry, and McCaffrey expressed their dissatisfaction with the league’s silence on social media prior to this move.
