A handful of the top NFL running backs participated in a private Zoom meeting Saturday to discuss their declining market.
Cowboys running back Tony Pollard was one of the 11 featured in the meeting.
Pollard is also one of three running backs that are likely to play on the franchise tag this season.
Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are two others.
Barkley Tuesday morning signed a 1-year deal worth up to $11 million.
Luckily for Cowboys fans, Pollard has signed his tag and is cleared for training camp that starts this week.
According to ESPN, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was the one who organized the meeting.
The “issue of Holding-In by exaggerating or fabricating injuries” was discussed.
Multiple sources tell Mike Florio the details of the meeting.
Much of the focus eventually went to agents, even though agents were excluded from the call.
Per Pro Football Talk, there was a concern about some agents creating false expectations for other running backs by dumping phony salaries into the back end of contracts.
While the meeting was private and, as of now, did not result in any significant action. Over the last couple of weeks, running backs have made sure to show their frustration on Twitter.
Value over the years
In 2017, if a running back signed the tag, it was worth $12.1 Million. Today, it is down to $10.1 million.
That is the number Pollard will play on, as well as Barkely and Jacobs if they sign.
Jacobs led the league in rushing a year ago with 1,653 yards, so I understand why all these top-backs got together to talk about the current market.
Depending on how Pollard does this year, Dallas will have to sign him, or he will be gone.
It will be different from what the Cowboys got into with the Ezekiel Elliott deal, but if they want to keep him, they will have to open the pocketbook.
Let’s face it, though; it has become easy to find a cheaper option.
Over the last ten years, only TWO of the leading rushers in the Super Bowl have made a base salary of over one million dollars.
Leonard Fournette in 2020, and Percy Harvin in 2013.
The story’s moral is that high-end running backs are important, but teams have won the Super Bowl without paying a ton of money for one.
I want Pollard to return to the Cowboys after 2023, but it has to be at the right price.
This probably won’t be the last meeting all these running backs have in the future, and maybe something will change.
I can’t see NFL teams giving in to them just because they hold meetings, though.
Football is a tough sport, and even if you are one of the best in the game at the running back position, you are likely to get the short end of the stick.
Nick Chubb, who was also in the meeting was the last top end running back to be paid.
In July 31, 2021, Chubb signed a three-year, $36.6 million contract extension with the Browns.
That might be the target market for some or higher.
I am curious to see how Pollard will fair at the end of the 2023 season.