Running backs in the NFL are one of the lowest paid positions in recent years and the lack of a long-term deal in the most recent free agency proves it.
RBs Tony Pollard, of the Dallas Cowboys; Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders; and Saquon BarkleyNew York Giants received the non-exclusive franchise player tag and the latter he has threatened his team not to show up to training camps or play.
the running back was on last week’s episode of ‘The Money Matters Podcast’ and declared what would be the steps to follow in case of getting a contract extension with the Giants, which happened.
“My advantage is that I could say ‘Fuck you’ to the Giants, I could say ‘fuck you’ to my teammates,” Barkley said. “And say, ‘Do you want me to show you what I’m worth? Do you want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won’t show up, I won’t play no down‘. That’s a play he could use.”
By not reaching a multiyear deal, Barkley will earn $10.091 million on the franchise tag in the 2023 season. Last year, he set a career-high for rushing yards in a season with 1,312; in addition, he added 10 touchdowns.
If Madden video game ratings are an indicator of player value, Barkley will be the fifth best runner in the 2024 edition with an average of 93. The still Giants player will only be behind Nick Chubb (97), Christian McCaffrey (96), Josh Jacobs (95) and Derrick Henry (94). Except Jacobs, the other three RBs have multi-year contracts that reach an average value per season between 12 and 16 million dollars.
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The example of Le’Veon Bell and contract disputes
The most recent case of a contract dispute was that of Le’Veon Bell with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018. The running back sat out the entire season because of the contract dispute and a year later received a four-year, $52.5 million deal from the New York Jets.
The Michigan State graduate only played one full season with the Jets and was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the middle of the second. Bell last played with the Tampa Bay Buccanners in the 2021 seasonafter a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens.
Before the contest, Bell had 5,336 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns on 1,229 carries in 62 games. After leaving the Steelers, the running back He only played 34 times in three seasons and had 1,218 yards with seven touchdowns.