Top NFL running backs meeting over Zoom to discuss contract woes

Sometime Saturday night, several NFL running backs will convene a protest meeting via Zoom. It’s unclear what more they can do but complain about their financial plight.

NBC Sports first reported on the meeting, saying that Chargers star Austin Ekeler is the organizer. The meeting was prompted by two of the league’s top running backs — Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley — not being able to sign a long-term contract with their teams.

Plus, Cowboys tailback Tony Pollard opted to play with the franchise tag offer rather than try to negotiate a long-term deal with Dallas. Jacobs (Raiders) and Barkley (Giants) likely will sit out at least part of their respective training camps because they never signed their franchise tag agreement.

Ekeler sent out the Zoom links to all the top NFL running backs. Plus, the NFLPA will have a rep on the call.

Here’s basically what’s at issue. Running back salaries have plummeted. The franchise tag for running backs, which is the average of the top five salaries at that position over the past five years, was $10.1 million. That’s the lowest for any position in the league. And, the tag has dropped $2 million in value in the last six years. The differerence in salaries is stark. A quarterback tag is $32.4 million. It’s $19.7 million for receivers and $18.2 million for offensive linemen.

San Francisco star Christian McCaffrey is the highest-paid veteran tailback. He makes $16 million. Earlier this week, McCaffrey blew up NFL twitter when he criticized the Giants, Raiders and Cowboys for not signing their tailbacks to long-term deals.

“This is Criminal,” he wrote. “Three of the best PLAYERS in the entire league, regardless of position.”

This is Criminal. Three of the best PLAYERS in the entire league, regardless of position. https://t.co/zDXRS5cGdu

— Christian McCaffrey (@CMC_22) July 17, 2023

Saints do-it-all star Alvin Kamara is No. 2 on the running backs salary list. He’ll make $15 million. Derrick Henry of the Titans is third at $12.5 million. Cleveland’s Nick Chubb is fourth at $12.2 million. And Aaron Jones of the Packers rounds out the top five. He’ll receive $11.5 million. Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard’s franchise tag one-year deal places them sixth overall.

Several big names clapped back at Matt Miller, an ESPN draft analyst, who suggested teams draft a running back and if they play well, designate them as the franchise tag player one time. Then, move on and draft another back.

“At this point, just take the RB position out the game then,” tweeted Derrick Henry. “The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization. Just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve.”

Neither Jacobs nor Barkley participated in their teams’ OTAs or minicamps. Jacobs, the former Alabama star, was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2020. He led the league in rushing in 2022. Barkley, who dazzled at Penn State, was the No. 2 pick of the 2018 draft. He’s so irritated with the Giants, he scrubbed mention of the team on his social media accounts.

Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns scored in the last two seasons. He’s only the seventh player since the league merger in 1970, to do so. The Chargers reworked his contract and added $1.75 million in incentives. Meanwhile, several top NFL running backs don’t have teams headed into training camp. The Vikings cut Dalvin Cook because of financial reasons. He’s posted four straight years of at least 1,000 yards. And the Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott, who twice led the NFL in rushing.