Tony Pollard participates in RB summit over market value

[RonnieT24]

The NFL game is evolving more and more into a 7 on 7 flag football league. Not to far in the future those of us who have enjoyed the game since the 60's and 70's won't recognize it.. and a lot of us won't bother to watch it. The best thing running backs can do at this point is get all their money up front. They need to get the NFLPA to alter the rookie salary scale such that the running backs, who are MOST productive and MOST impactful on the field and MOST used on their rookie deals get MOST of their money on that rookie deal. Running backs who get drafted early should refuse to sign unless it's for QB-like money. AND it needs to be guaranteed. The only way for them to accomplish that is for all of them to act in concert and they would have to get all the backups across the league as well as all the kids from college to cooperate as well. In other words.. it's never gonna happen.

 

[RonnieT24]

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

Umm.. that's the way the law was written and that's why we have unions. Because management across multiple industries has repeatedly demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to deal fairly with labor.

 

[HungryLion]

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.

You really don’t think recruiting coaches don’t discuss their potential role with players? Come on

I agree on the NFL. But I am talking about multi positional athletes coming out of high school.

 

[KJJ]

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.

There’s a number of RBs in the Hall of Fame that had pretty long careers and they didn’t have the benefit of the player safety rules they have today. One of the big issues facing RBs looking for huge contracts is that more and more teams are using multiple backs. We’re moving further away from the days of a workhorse back. Plus you simply don’t score enough points running the football all day. You score with the passing game. Most of the rules are all bent to open up the passing game to promote scoring. A number of QBs in the league today are dual threat QBs that provide a good percentage of their teams rushing yards. All of this has devalued RBs. We’re seeing more teams every year move on from good RBs. The skyrocketing QB and WR salaries hasn’t helped RBs. Another thing that’s not helping RBs is most of the teams that have the top rushers aren’t winning. Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing with over 1600 yards last season and the Raiders missed the playoffs.

 

[KJJ]

Even when the NFL was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust league, most teams weren’t winning championships with great RBs. O.J. Simpson, Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson and Adrian Peterson never even played in a Super Bowl. Tennessee has been riding Derrick Henry for the past several years, but they couldn’t even make the playoffs last season despite over 1500 yards from him.

 

[Momanpr100]

some players know how to take care of their finances and some do not. Those that plan well will be fine for years to come (although they will still want to get paid). Those that don't will run into hard times down the road.

If you watch the Netflix show "Quarterback", you will see a stark difference in the way Patrick Mahomes lives and the way Kirk Cousins lives. Cousins talks about driving a van, has a very nice but not extravagant home (he also has one on Lake Michigan), dresses like a "normal" person, etc. Mahomes was driving a Bentley, just built an enormous house with a basketball court, par 3 golf hole, pool, theater room, dresses in designer clothes (as does his annoying wife).

I'm sure there are RB's doing the same. Problem is, they aren't making $50M like Patrick. They want the lifestyle, but don't have the cash to do it. And RB's will likely never be in that position financially. If they are any good, they will get a nice 2nd contract and if they are smart with their money it will set them and their family up for a very long time. They have to realize that they have no leverage. I'm not saying they should take what they can get and be happy about it, but having zoom meetings, etc. will do nothing to increase their value to teams.

It's not about being broke. They're bodies get used and abused and then thrown out. There should be more protection for them.

 

[TwoDeep3]

They can all blame Zeke for teams not wanting to pay RBs. His decline began a year after he got paid. Another issue is players are looking for guaranteed contracts these days. No one is going to guarantee a lot of money to an RB. By the time they’re 27 or 28 they’re already showing signs of decline.

I have seen this argument over and over. Yet I do not hear the people making this claim also talk about Zeke playing hurt for a half a season with an obvious knee injury because he felt he owed the team because they gave him a big check.
It's always blame someone for everything that is perceived to not be right in the Cowboy world..

Maybe this board should be a little more positive about a player that wrecked his body to continue to compete because he was attempting to be a good team mate.

Did he hold out? Yep.

But did the league unjustly sentence him for something that was never proven to be anything but some vengeful woman who thought his payday was her payday? And the jackwad who runs the league made Zeke an example to cover his fat arse for blowing Ray Rice's beatdown of a woman on film.

 

[KJJ]

I have seen this argument over and over. Yet I do not hear the people making this claim also talk about Zeke playing hurt for a half a season with an obvious knee injury because he felt he owed the team because they gave him a big check.
It's always blame someone for everything that is perceived to not be right in the Cowboy world..

Maybe this board should be a little more positive about a player that wrecked his body to continue to compete because he was attempting to be a good team mate.

Did he hold out? Yep.

But did the league unjustly sentence him for something that was never proven to be anything but some vengeful woman who thought his payday was her payday? And the jackwad who runs the league made Zeke an example to cover his fat arse for blowing Ray Rice's beatdown of a woman on film.

Playing hurt is part of football. Teams don’t want to put all their eggs in the basket of one RB. By the time they’re second contract comes around most RBs best years are behind them. Paying an RB a second contract isn’t working out for teams. It didn’t work out for the Cowboys with Zeke and it didn’t work out for Carolina with McCaffrety. Teams are starting to move on from backs that are up for a second contract.

 

[rambo2]

truthfully, I think we need the team to set aside a fund to pay for our mental therapy and counseling after the last 27 years. I mean, our emotional roller coaster has taken its toll over the years. The argument is we are spolied..which is what the ;likes of Mike Fisher wants us to believe, but if the standard is still winning big games when they matter and getting 2 a SB, why again are we spoiled? I will not sit down and stay quiet like he wants. We haven't won many playoff games in the past 27 years. My feeling is Dallas is an elite franchise like no other in pro sports and the standard should always be 1 of reaching a SB. We have failed miserably the last 27 years and thats a truth that no one can argue. Count me as spoiled if I have higher expectations than other teams fans. That star on the helmet represents a heritage, greatness and a level of play that should equal it. ANYTHING ELSE IS A FAILURE. Fans put $ in teams pockets and that will never change unless the fans are eliminated from the equation. THEY NEED US. Holding the Jones family' feet to the fire is what we need to do. Lastly, I give Jerry credit for buying the team and taking us to 3 SB's making us relevant again. I give him his due, but by any measure, thats ancient history. Time for a new chapter of winning. We haven't been relevant in 27 years. Guys like Mike Fisher simply doesn't care what we think and is holding on to the past glory of decades gone by. We should never do that. The mere fact that millionaire players are having a summit tie into this junk. It shows the delusional mindset they have that they are entitled to more and more, results be damned. END OF RANT. Here is to a great 2023 season!

They have a good team. Enjoy the season. Enjoy the ride.

 

[CowboyFrog]

2 year rookie deals, its really tje only answer and not a great one, also if the owners are going to go all in on collusion they need to do the QB's next before this turns into tennis.

 

[erod]

2 year rookie deals, its really tje only answer and not a great one, also if the owners are going to go all in on collusion they need to do the QB's next before this turns into tennis.

College is already like that. Three guys in the huddle making $500K+, while the other 8 guys get free pizza.

 

[CowboyFrog]

College is already like that. Three guys in the huddle making $500K+, while the other 8 guys get free pizza.

yeah, wouldn't be suprised if the QB's Oline in NCAA are like "Hey give me some of that money or your gonna be on your arss alot"..lol

 

[Cowboys93]

They can all blame Zeke for teams not wanting to pay RBs. His decline began a year after he got paid. Another issue is players are looking for guaranteed contracts these days. No one is going to guarantee a lot of money to an RB. By the time they’re 27 or 28 they’re already showing signs of decline.

Blame Zeke for leveraging his position or blame Jerry for folding to it?

 

[KJJ]

Blame Zeke for leveraging his position or blame Jerry for folding to it?

I’m not blaming either one. Zeke did what he had to do and it paid off. He would have never gotten a second contract had he not held out. We needed him and Jerry did what was right at the time by signing him. Our season went down the drain when he was suspended for six games.

 

[khiladi]

It’s not even directly about the CAP.
It’s not just about the longevity, injuries, or how fast RBs can stop being worth their salaries.
It’s the modern analytics. Every owner, GM, and coach knows that no matter how great or average a RB is, the studies show that RBs don’t significantly impact the outcome of games. Every team sport has the facts on how positions impact actual wins over the replacement player. We can all rank the starting RBs from best to worst, but the analytics say that the RB doesn’t have much impact on wins vs losses Or points scored. It’s the OL, the threat of the pass, the scheme fit, and the coach/play-calling.

No matter what our eyes and logic tell us about the difference between Derek Henry of Tennessee and Pacheco of KC, the analytics prove that the next “qualified” starter in line won’t significantly increase or decrease the win total. The QB, Left Tackle, WR, coach, and overall OL effectiveness all impact wins and losses more than the RB/TE positions.

The problem is, analytics doesn’t measure what was left on the field.. my completion percentage could be high one game, but that’s because I took the check down instead of thrown the ball on an intermediate route that would have netted 30 yards, as the WR had a step on the DB.

Which analytics measures a defense decided to play more man because Henry was on the field, opening things up for the QB, as opposed to zone?

 

[khiladi]

Zeke's decline began after his rookie season.
YPC, YPT, YPTch all highest in his rookie season.

The Cowboys sucked when Zeke was suspended for 6 games, as defenses weren’t at all threatened by Dak.

 

[erod]

You can't pay the QB half your offensive cap, then the stud WR, the LT, the TE, and still have money left over for the running back.

Running backs have QB salaries to blame. Period.

 

[Cowboys93]

I’m not blaming either one. Zeke did what he had to do and it paid off. He would have never gotten a second contract had he not held out. We needed him and Jerry did what was right at the time by signing him. Our season went down the drain when he was suspended for six games.

Agree with all of this

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Playing hurt is part of football.

Teams don’t want to put all their eggs in the basket of one RB. By the time they’re second contract comes around most RBs best years are behind them. Paying an RB a second contract isn’t working out for teams. It didn’t work out for the Cowboys with Zeke and it didn’t work out for Carolina with McCaffrety. Teams are starting to move on from backs that are up for a second contract.

No it isnt.
Guys sit out for a lot less than RB knee i jury.
Saquan a sits a lot.
Fact is cowboys knew he was injured and asked him.....let him if you insist...and he played....thats his mindset.
The coach and staff are responsible for managing players, playing time and injuries.
We all saw the end result of that.

 

[KJJ]

No it isnt.
Guys sit out for a lot less than RB knee i jury.
Saquan a sits a lot.
Fact is cowboys knew he was injured and asked him.....let him if you insist...and he played....thats his mindset.
The coach and staff are responsible for managing players, playing time and injuries.
We all saw the end result of that.

There’s a difference between playing hurt and being injured. Players play hurt all the time, it’s part of the game. There isn’t a player on the field that doesn’t have some ailment. Zeke’s playing time was being managed.