The NFL has been under fire lately, particularly regarding the current state of the running back position.
Several marquee backs weren’t given contract extensions, which led to a private Zoom meeting between some of the league’s most talented players.
While the New York Giants recently remedied their situation with Saquon Barkley, players like Josh Jacobs and Austin Ekeler are still in limbo.
In a recent segment of ‘Up and Adams,’ Cris Collinsworth further detailed the situation.
“There haven’t been the great success stories of running backs on those second or third contracts,” Collinsworth said.
.@CollinsworthPFF explains why the running back position has been devalued and what has to be addressed in the next CBA
📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams | @PFF pic.twitter.com/XP9mNXP7WS
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 24, 2023
While many analysts have recently spoken out about the current state of the position, Collinsworth had an alternate standpoint.
“I’ve got to say, I understand it,” Collinsworth said regarding the response of front offices.
He pointed out that there hasn’t been a fantastic track record of running back performances after a certain age.
Given the nature of the position, running backs tend to get beaten down by the season.
Collinsworth’s argument tended to side with NFL teams, which will likely receive a negative response from fans and current players.
The news of Barkley signing a new contract with the Giants could signify what’s to come for Jacobs and other elite athletes in the future.
However, if Collinsworth has anything to say about it, teams will likely continue the current trajectory.
Collinsworth’s motto is to sign backs to a rookie deal, franchise tag them for one or two years, and move on.
How will the league respond to this situation?
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