Why RBs Don't get Paid Anymore (Freakonomics)

The first sentence here implies that we would somehow be the only team in the league paying RBs less. Which would be a huge advantage. And like we've said many times before, QB quality >>> RB quality for team success. All teams know this. Which is why Rbs are dropping in cap%.

With the 2nd sentence, I assume you don't mean those specific guys since they'll be pretty old next time they're available. But I like having elite freaks on the team. And those guys (McCaffrey too) fit the bill. So if guys like that (but younger) were available, I'd be OK with it. Particularly since I think the UFA contracts Henry and Barkley signed weren't that expensive.

I would extend an elite RB to a 2nd contract (providing he was still playing at an elite level in the last year of his 1st contract). Especially at today's prices, which are lower than they were when Bell held out. Although truth be told, I'd probably rather tag them twice if the structure of that 2nd contract wasn't team friendly.

But I wouldn't extend an average to below average RB. Which is why optioning Najee didn't make sense.

We tried to extend Bell (who had been elite, but his contract year on the tag was his worst year). I can't remember, but maybe you do...did we try to extend Bell when we put the tag on him the first time? I wonder if we did and he had insane demands were RB1+WR2 then too...but I don't remember.

He wanted to be paid like a RB + RB2 so he didn't like the long term offer we had on the table and he didn't sign the 2nd tag. I continue to be completely in favor of not demonizing players for doing what they think is in their best interest. He's trading quality of life and lifespan for playing in the NFL. He can put the price on that he wants to. It doesn't make him evil. But in hindsight, it was a poor decision IMO.

I'm glad he let the Jets demonstrate how terrible that contract was instead of signing what we offered him. And I think that he would have got more actual money if he signed with us. But I think his agent made more money on the Jets deal because my understanding is that they get paid on the sticker price, not what players actually get paid.

 

I listened to most of the podcast. The only part I thought was wrong was the guy saying we would never see a RB lead a team to a SB. We just watched Barkley do it for Philly and McCaffrey did it a year prior.

 

Wasted 1st round pick. It happens.

Running Backs are a dime a dozen. Its a brutal physical position and shelf life is not long. Very few are rewarded.

Warren, undrafted. Wasting a high pick on a running back has been the exception not the norm.

 

There are still some running backs that are difference-makers and worthy of a first-round pick. The problem is you better be right if you take a RB that high, and it is possible to get an elite back later in the draft if you nail your evaluation and other teams don't...or you just get lucky.

 

The young man from ND Jerimiyea Love depending on not getting hurt will be the next
Superstar Rb in the league . He has all the tools.

 

It's a rebroadcast of a podcast from last year. Maybe he did an extra minute or two somewhere to they can say they "updated it".

So it was true at the time. Then Philly won last year.

They had just signed him the year before 3 years $37.8MM. I don't know the total structure, but OTC says it had $26MM in guarantees. So he probably wasn't easily cuttable until after year 2.

Then they extended him before the 2025 year to give him more money after a phenomenal 2024 season. Philly is all about the void years, so it keeps his cap hit low, while keeping him on the books until 2030 (and I wouldn't be surprised if they restructure some of the $16.8MM in guarantees he has this season to push that cap hit out even further).

I can't see the Steelers ever doing something like this while the Rooneys are in charge. Requires too much upfront cash for and sells out the future for the present. Both are antithetical to how they run the business.

The Eagles are putting all of their eggs in the next couple of years (Hurts cap hit is gargantuan at the end of his current deal). Again...not something the Steelers are ever going to do IMO. But they already won once with this group, so the bet paid out.

I bet they aren't super excited about Barkley getting ~ 1k less total yards after they gave him a raise though. He wasn't going to get 2k again. Still had a good season, but I bet they were hoping for a season more like what Henry had (decline from his ~ 2k the year before, but not by a whole lot).

Good thing about Barkley is that he's still under 30 (28). Henry is 31. But he's a freak among freaks. So who knows. I probably wouldn't want to extend him after the 2027 season though (33). Tag him if he's still this good. Or see if he is OK with Revis style short high value contracts.

 

I wouldn't say wasted. But probably at least a slight disappointment from what you'd want. I bet he was close to the expected value from a late 1st round pick (24 IIRC). You want more, but there's a big difference between the front and the back of the 1st round.

I wanted a tackle, but the ones that seemed like they were worth picking were off the board at the time. And IIRC, that draft wasn't really very good overall.

We got production out of him though.

Not worth a big payday via option or extension, but I would have taken him back on a cheap deal (unlike K Green or Pickett). Najee is basically the same as Edmunds (but better). He was OK at everything and super-durable (when here). We got out at the right time.

 

I could see the Chiefs drafting him.

 

I think the turning point for RBs was the Gurley contract. It was a blockbuster contract at the time that ended up burning the team when he got injured. Teams started to rethink the position after that. It's just such a brutal position to play, even with lighter LBs because those LBs can hit with a whole lot more speed... you know F=MA kinda thing. Look at the tough injuries; Chubb, Breece Hall, Javonte Williams, and this year's darling Skattebo.

 

I am thinking the Saints.

 

I don’t think Philly cares since they just won a SB in Barkley’s first year. That’s the goal right? Chances of winning back to back SB’s.. slim.

If anything the regret is Hurts and AJ Brown. They were terrible last season but that isn’t shocking after a SB win.

 

When speaking on Najee please remember his OC and OL. They were not good at all.

and everyone talking about Warren like he had a pro bowl year.

Our running game is still meh. I don’t buy the RB’s are a dime a dozen. Every position is dime a dozen with another guy waiting on the sideline to show he belongs. If this was the case then our rookie RB from Iowa would have stepped inappropriately and immediately had an impact.

Folks were predicting 800 yards and 6 TDs his rookie year.

A RB who can come in, have an impact and protect the QB on 3rd down is not easy to find.

 

Don't forget ball security!

 

We have a complete new staff

You don’t even have a clue what the current model is

Whine whine whine

 

Yep. They made the bet and it paid out.

 

wtf are you yapping about now? Why I speak on a staff that hasn’t even put their final roster together?

Go shuck some corn.

 

I like what You say, but I think when people look for guys that just hit the big plays it takes away what the whole concept of a running game is about.
It's about controlling the narrative of the game, and making the D play your way. Give me a RB that gets 3-4 yards actually a carry, than a RB that gets a 2, 1, 4, 2, 1,6, 0, 0, 2 and then 50 yard td. Yes it may average up to a 4, or 5 yard per carry, but You can't control the running game that way. It actually defeats the whole purpose of the running game.

 

Gibberish

 

Is it bingo night?

 

Barkley is an outlier. Even guys like CMC, Henry, Taylor are outliers too. Average starting RB salary is probably $5M a year or less. Heck, a lot of kickers are making that much with a helluva lot less wear and tear and better career longevity.

 

Really sucked seeing Franco in a different uniform

 

We all know a good kicker is worth his weight in gold
Win or lose on their foot

 

Yeah, just ask the rat birds. Hahaha

 

pro bowl.... just sayin...