Tony Pollard participates in RB summit over market value

[aikemirv]

They are paid accordingly right now. Its the market. They can have sour grapes all they want but the facts are the market is supply and demand. Pollard is getting 10 mil fully guaranteed on the tag, thats hardly "not being paid." Guess what, if he has a stellar year he will get his bag,I promise ya.

No he won't - he will get tagged another year and that will be it for him as an opportunity for a big contract.

 

[aikemirv]

They are paid accordingly right now. Its the market. They can have sour grapes all they want but the facts are the market is supply and demand. Pollard is getting 10 mil fully guaranteed on the tag, thats hardly "not being paid." Guess what, if he has a stellar year he will get his bag,I promise ya.

And honestly their market was destroyed by the NFL emphasizing the passing game for viewership and ratings.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Hard to guarantee a lot of money to an unproven rookie. There really is no answer if you’re an RB. It may result in a lot of kids not wanting to play RB if they have professional aspirations. It’s a short career and you have to get your money early. It’s going to be hard to convince teams to sign these young players to short two year rookie deals. They want to lock them up for at least four years.

I agree with you brother.

Got to appreciate the irony from the players side.

Not many skilled players will want that position, as you’ve noted. That may be their greatest leverage to get larger rookie guarantees for RB.

 

[Creeper]

Teams figured out they can have or need two running backs to use in rotation. When they started having success splitting carries between two or more backs the era of the 1 big name back ended, with few exceptions.

I don't see a way out for RBs unless the league steps in and changes the rules to balance running the football with passing. That is not going to happen. Now, you also have QBs contributing to the number of running plays. I think if teams could spend $16 million onf two good RBs, they would do that before giving 1 $16 million.

 

[KJJ]

I agree with you brother.

Got to appreciate the irony from the players side.

Not many skilled players will want that position, as you’ve noted. That may be their greatest leverage to get larger rookie guarantees for RB.

They’re not going to have any leverage if they don’t want to play RB. They’ll be stuck having to find another career. Players can’t be looking at the pay scale of positions to decide what position they want to play. The position you play comes down to what you’re best suited for and what the coaches decide.

 

[Rayman70]

No he won't - he will get tagged another year and that will be it for him as an opportunity for a big contract.

even so, the tag will be fully guaranteed like 12 mil next time. Thats hardly chump change.

 

[Rayman70]

And honestly their market was destroyed by the NFL emphasizing the passing game for viewership and ratings.

very true. We agree its a massively flawed system. Media driven and thats a HUGE issue. The media basically IS the market driving force.

 

[Rayman70]

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

They’re not going to have any leverage if they don’t want to play RB. They’ll be stuck having to find another career. Players can’t be looking at the pay scale of positions to decide what position they want to play. The position you play comes down to what you’re best suited for and what the coaches decide.

I think they absolutely look at positions for pay scale and I believe Parsons will be doing that for his next contract. LB pay or DE pay? Hmmm

 

[KJJ]

I think they absolutely look at positions for pay scale and I believe Parsons will be doing that for his next contract. LB pay or DE pay? Hmmm

Parsons will have a very good argument with all the DE he plays. He’s pretty much a DE/edge rusher.

 

[buybuydandavis]

It was the decline of our OL that caused him not to reach his rookie numbers. He came up just short of 1000 yards his second year because he missed six games due to a suspension. He put up over 1400 yards in year year three and over 1300 in year four with a declining OL. The retirement of Travis Frederick really hurt our OL. His decline began to become real noticeable in year five, plus Pollard was getting more and more of his carries, which hurt his production.

The oline did decline, and that did hurt his numbers.
Further, by holding out, year 2 had the added decline of not being fully in shape to play.
Bounced back in year 3, but even by then, he didn't have the same burst as year 1 by eyeball, nor the same top speed as evidenced by NextGenStats.
Zeke was phenomenal as a rookie. Just exploded.
All Pro as a rookie, but never again, and that's the *correct* call.

 

[buybuydandavis]

No he won't - he will get tagged another year and that will be it for him as an opportunity for a big contract.

The 2nd tag will be 20% more. If Pollard is still looking elite, I expect we sign him to a new effectively 3 year deal, backloading the cap hit, while frontloading the money to Pollard. Win-win.
If we use him like we should, more as a hybrid RB/WR, letting him loose downfield more often, we get more value out of him while reducing the wear and tear. A multi year contract becomes viable.

 

[conner01]

I been saying for years we need a hard cap for each position on a team. An allotment just for running backs,QB's etc. We have a hard rookie cap when guys are drafted. Why not a hard set cap for vets? I think it makes sense and keeps teams more viable and competitive.

I think it benefits players as a whole. The system has turned into the haves and have nots and is really effected vets who aren’t QB’s

 

[HungryLion]

They’re not going to have any leverage if they don’t want to play RB. They’ll be stuck having to find another career. Players can’t be looking at the pay scale of positions to decide what position they want to play. The position you play comes down to what you’re best suited for and what the coaches decide.

It’ll be interesting to see how this affects college recruiting.

I could see some really talented high school athletes choosing a program where the coach says they can play another position as opposed to playing RB.

 

[KJJ]

It’ll be interesting to see how this affects college recruiting.

I could see some really talented high school athletes choosing a program where the coach says they can play another position as opposed to playing RB.

I’ve never heard of any programs where coaches allow players to choose their position. It certainly doesn’t work like that in the NFL. If a player is really talented at RB that’s the position they’re going to play. Players can’t be choosing positions based on NFL payscales.

 

[G2]

Pollard is already banking enough. Sorry. If you only get 3, maybe 4 seasons out of an RB before decline, why pay them like a LT, OL or DE who at least has longevity?

 

[Qcard]

Anybody not happy over our honest offers is an ingrate.

And NIL says we are NOT starving at the table anymore.

 

[aikemirv]

I’ve never heard of any programs where coaches allow players to choose their position. It certainly doesn’t work like that in the NFL. If a player is really talented at RB that’s the position they’re going to play. Players can’t be choosing positions based on NFL payscales.

I think you are probably right and in the grand scheme of career choices you are better off playing RB in the NFL than 99.5 % of any other jobs in America.

 

[DanTanna]

So players can collude with each other to get more money, but owners cannot collude to pay less money. Sounds fair.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

A dying position both in cash and usage as the NFL is going Pass Pass Pass and more Pass.
Only desperate teams with lousy QB think and pray the running game is going to take you anywhere.
The last SB-winning team with the leading HB in rushing was the Broncos (Terrell Davis) back in the 90'
If your offense can't make the 3rd and 8 thru the air you staying home and watching the SB on the couch!!!