It Is What It Is

The state of the running back market in the NFL took another hit on Monday, as the deadline for franchise-tagged players to agree to long-term contracts had passed with 3/6 of the tagged players being left unsigned. The results from Monday's deadline have struck down some major lightning strikes across the league, leaving impact in it's aftermath and causing players at the position to speak out in outrage. Below are the six tagged players going into the offseason that were seeking long-term deals and the deadline outcomes:

You may have noticed the trend. Out of the six players... the three running backs were the players that had not signed a long-term deal by the deadline. This news caused a major stir throughout the league and did so quickly. Just minutes after the deadline, Saquon Barkley tweeted "It is what it is", which caused all hell to break out. Twitter got hot- as the league's best running backs tweeted their thoughts on the news. Other athletes and football analysts followed suit. I loved every bit of it. Everyone spittin' their opinions on a sports business matter- that's wassup. Frankly, I won't sit here and pick a side. Not in this post or in this moment. Mostly due to me having reasons for both.

I am all about players getting the moohlah, and can understand their motives in trying to get the moohlah. They are in a very select group of people who have the skills and athleticism to SACRIFICE their bodies and mentals in the act of competition. I won't degrade a player who works for more. However, I also understand the business and respect, as well as understand the front office's perspective and job responsibilities. There is so many moving parts in the world of budgeting; capital; finance. Business is business. This is a tough business, from all sides of the table. Allow me to drop some deets and knowledge from both perspectives, and leave you all to banter and create an opinion of your own on this matter.

Tensions have been created from the franchise tag and created by the current state of the running back market. More so than ever when we consider contracts and demands amongst NFL players. We have two teams who feel they need to spend their capital elsewhere or in more bunches. Leaving two of the league's best skill players in a haze, as they feel they have earned more money yearly and more money guaranteed- now they are willing to hold out rather than play for a $ value they feel is lower than their true value. The Giants and Raiders contemplated every outcome, and decided not to link their stud RBs long term. The teams knew of the cause and effect of not linking these guys before the deadline. Jacobs; Barkley; and Pollard will now have to play the 2023 season on their franchise tenders, which are worth $10.091M for running backs. Playing on $10.1Ms makes the three tied for the 8th highest salary amongst active running backs. This is a slap to the face in the feelings of Barkley and Jacobs and caused them not to sign the tenders (at least yet). Barkley and Jacobs will bypass all training camp activities, which they can do without facing any fines or financial repercussions. They will start losing money once regular season games begin, as they will forfeit all game checks for not playing. Pollard signed his tender, will be at camp for Dallas. Barkley and Jacobs may have no issues in holding out, as they want to test their true value to the team. Risky buiz fellas.

Ya think Saquon and Josh are being over demanding or selfish, huh? Let's look at their case. We all should have the understanding of how physical the play is for a pro RB. The motions; the impact; and the speed alone. Then you think about the s*** turf that eats at an ankle's life span. Most NFL running backs' primes are very quick and come with a list of injuries- making their demands for money understandable. It's a hard nosed game and the running back position is, for sure, one of the toughest on a body over time. The nature of the position and the game is a talking point they have, that they can use to negotiate with. Bottom line.

A talking point the players also feel to include, is value. A big point that was brought up by some of the vocal tweeters and fellow running backs. A point that may be considered strong towards Josh Jacobs AND Saquon Barkley. JJ had a career year running the rock. He ran for 1,653 yards, punching in 12 toudys on 340 carries, for an average of 4.9 yards per attempt, and added 400 yards receiving on top of that. Jacobs led the league in rushing yards and ranked 5th in touchdowns. Statistically that's value, won't you say? Now how about in the teams' success? Raiders went 6-11 last season, and ranked 17th in total rushing offense. Jacobs led the league in rushing yards, but his team was 17th in total rushing offense? The Raiders did rank 12th in total offense, which is still in big regards to Jacobs. Just not as valuable as some try to claim. How about Barkley's value? Saquon was fabulous, last season. He finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with a career-high 1,312 yards. Saquon played a monumental role in the Giants' resurgence, accounting for 27.7% of the team's scrimmage yards as New York netted its first winning season and playoff berth since 2016. Barkley's rushing lifted the Giants to have a top 4 rushing offense, last season. Barkley either scored a touchdown or put up 100+ rushing yards in 7 of the 9, Giants' wins. Might be a silly way of comparing the two: but, if you take Jacobs away from the Raiders, then they are still a lack luster; under performing; non playoff team. With or without Jacobs. You take Barkley away from the Giants, and you absolutely take them out of the playoffs, last season. They win the same amount of games if not less than the Raiders. They also take steps back going into this coming season. A reality they might just face. Both players are statistically phenomenal, but is their value to the club, really the value the players think it is?

Raiders are in a terrible spot. Which makes me giggle- Raiders' fan need to understand that there is far more to worry about than just losing Josh Jacobs. They literally said they couldn't fire Josh McDaniels due to not having the money to do so. How does that just go past yah's head? The cap situation in Vegas is bad. They have financial issues swooping in left and right. They don't have the money to extend Jacobs- a reality that Vegas hasn't even came to. They almost had Jacobs signed by the deadline. Jacobs thought everything was done. Then something fell through, or whatever the reason, and it wasn't. Maybe a blessing in disguise for the Raiders.

The Giants are playing with the cards they have as well. They spent some sizable coin in reloading the roster for another playoff run, this season. Including an addition of TE Darren Waller. More coin was spent on a Daniel Jones extension, as well. People don't look at any of this sh**. They just wanna spit about stuff being unfair and not right. Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler I speak to you. Part of the front office game is knowing there will be sacrifices and knowing you will NOT have 100% success rate. Drafting a running back and using them to the fullest while they are paid under a rookie contract, following the rules in place and the cards to play, and not extending them to do it over again- is not a bad thing. Morally wrong? Yes, I'd say so. Life is a b**** especially for those under contract in today's business world. Get custom to it. Won't change. For GMs or those in the front office: it's not a bad way of running a team. Players might not like it, but it's the best route. It really is. Saquon, it is what it is, brotha. Don't believe me? Check this out:

The Philadelphia Eagles; New England Patriots; and Kansas City Chiefs (under Reid, post Charles) know how to keep a RB room. They do! Again, I won't shame a player for demanding value/money. Won't degrade. Nor will I degrade a GM if they strategically have a way of building a roster that doesn't have too much capital linked to a RB room. If I'm a GM, the whole stat talk? I'm not about it. Keep that negotiation for the cats in Canton, this right here? This right here is business. I need to maximize my teams potential while staying in the realm of the cap and our budget. That's what I am being paid to control and maintain. Saquon says he is owed 16Ms/YR because that's where McCaffrey is? Well San Francisco sought to build their capital around him (which was landed via trade). That was San Francisco's decision. So many variables. When you revert to just saying this is unfair and "inhumane", then I know you don't have the understanding of those other variables. None of them really point to a market being "unfair". It's just how the line in the sand was drawn. Blame the CBA.

We saw how holding out affected Le'Veon Bell and his plans/career. I don't recommend Jacobs or Barkley to do that. Play the season and go somewhere else. You didn't get the 14-16Ms a year that you wanted from the club who tagged you. You won't get that from any team if you sit a whole year and try it again. Even the lack-luster teams who have capital, won't budge. NFLPA can be the only savior here, running backs. Get them to evaluate this franchise tag nonsense at the next CBA. Evaluate the rookie contracts and the length of them. Those are the only ways they can help the market for the RB position. This case (holding out) will do nothing but keep worsening it.

I agree with Vegas and Dallas not extending Jacobs or Pollard long term. They have a lot of rearranging they need to do to avoid a rebuild process. With Dallas' system and their past of over usage, why would they pay a RB good coin? Good to tag Pollard- see how things pan out and negotiate again with him after the season. Vegas giving Jacobs the bankroll would not have been the best business move. You would love to keep him- but I don't think it would be smart long-term. They are in the business of avoiding another deep rebuild. Making a RB the highest paid RB should not be in their thinking. Giants should have kept Barkley long term, if he would accept 12-14M a year. Giants have a more together roster and Barkley is a big piece to it. Plus despite his injury history, he is still only 26. Seeing his play last year after injuries was impressive and worth an investment. Again, risky business.

What do you think, are the running backs underappreciated and underpaid? Be wary, it's a touchy subject! Good thing this is the place for debate! Let the smoke loose.

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