You wonder, if Zeke started the controversy with RB's not getting paid

[TexasHillbilly]

Hell didn’t we lowball Demarco? To blame Zeke is insane especially when guys got paid after Zeke like McCaffery.

I think Philly highballed him cause they wanted to take away our running game (which worked by the way). His career was over after that.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I think Philly highballed him cause they wanted to take away our running game (which worked by the way). His career was over after that.

Yeah but even for what he did it wasn’t really a highball.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yawn... another attempt to bash Zeke? Pass..

 

[LonnieElam]

JUST STOP

Are you defending Zeke's contract? And lmao at you getting upset over a comment on a message board.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You wonder, if Zeke started the controversy with RB's not getting paid​

No he didn't. It started way before Zeke. The Cowboys were just slow to learn the lesson.

 

[RonnieT24]

Are you defending Zeke's contract? And lmao at you getting upset over a comment on a message board.

The only problem with Zeke's contract is that immediately after signing him to it the Cowboys turned their offense over to a guy who wanted to play Mountain West, shotgun all the time, run the ball only if you have to and only up the middle except for once or twice a game. The Cowboys wasted Zeke's last two years as a great running back.. and once he started declining and getting hurt there was nothing they could do about it. I firmly believe that had they stuck to the style of offense they had played BEFORE Moore was given the reigns they would have had more regular season and playoff success.

 

[5Stars]

The only problem with Zeke's contract is that immediately after signing him to it the Cowboys turned their offense over to a guy who wanted to play Mountain West, shotgun all the time, run the ball only if you have to and only up the middle except for once or twice a game. The Cowboys wasted Zeke's last two years as a great running back.. and once he started declining and getting hurt there was nothing they could do about it. I firmly believe that had they stuck to the style of offense they had played BEFORE Moore was given the reigns they would have had move regular season and playoff success.

So, hound dog, what do you think will happen with the running backs, because that is my concern on offense. The Pollard injury still lingers and can he really carry the load? I have no clue about the others because I have not seen them play yet. Can Pollard carry the load in your estimation?

 

[diamonddelts]

... We know and they know. When Zeke got paid $$$$$, his stats became lower as years went forward. Instead of keeping pace, he declined.
I know he instilled some injuries, but the offset has been greater than expected.

Chargers RB, Austin Ekeler, now concerned with stigma, of whats seem to be occurring with RB's around the league Also take note of Barkley situation.

Using the franchise tag on them. Might be route to go.

Eklers scoop about it: RB Stigma

Todd Gurley has entered the chat.

 

[nate dizzle]

... We know and they know. When Zeke got paid $$$$$, his stats became lower as years went forward. Instead of keeping pace, he declined.
I know he instilled some injuries, but the offset has been greater than expected.

Chargers RB, Austin Ekeler, now concerned with stigma, of whats seem to be occurring with RB's around the league Also take note of Barkley situation.

Using the franchise tag on them. Might be route to go.

Eklers scoop about it: RB Stigma

It has less to do with Zekes contract or his production than it does the success other teams have had employing a rbbc or riding young rookie deals until they are up.

People want to blame Zeke for diminished returns but any fool could see that after Dallas rode him into the ground carrying the offense his first few seasons, that the wheels were going to come off soon. Hell, even Zeke knew it, which is why he held out for the bag. Everyone knew except Jerry and Stephen. Surprising, considering they did the right thing with D Murray in the same situation.

 

[5Stars]

Zeke saved Dak from some big hits from the blitz that is for sure. Who can do that now that is on this team? Pollard, the lead back?

 

[Big_D]

It has less to do with Zekes contract or his production than it does the success other teams have had employing a rbbc or riding young rookie deals until they are up.

People want to blame Zeke for diminished returns but any fool could see that after Dallas rode him into the ground carrying the offense his first few seasons, that the wheels were going to come off soon. Hell, even Zeke knew it, which is why he held out for the bag. Everyone knew except Jerry and Stephen. Surprising, considering they did the right thing with D Murray in the same situation.

That was Jerry thinking he was going to get another Emmitt Smith type of workload out of Elliott. Teams are realizing you need more than 1 back and they're not worth the top tier contracts for that reason.

 

[boysfanperiod]

Definitely, can't blame Zeke here.

Having FBs become mostly obsolete helped with the downgraded value of RBs. JMHO I am probably completely wrong on this.

Nobody did it better than Moose Johnson. He sacrificed a lot for Emmitt to get some sweet running lanes. Now, RBs have to run through LBs without a lead blocker at full speed. The wear and tear is just taxing on the body. I would love to see a FB renaissance, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[boysfanperiod]

Zeke saved Dak from some big hits from the blitz that is for sure. Who can do that now that is on this team? Pollard, the lead back?

That was one of the good things about Zeke. Not a knock on Pollard, but I hope he will get better at that.

 

[RonnieT24]

So, hound dog, what do you think will happen with the running backs, because that is my concern on offense. The Pollard injury still lingers and can he really carry the load? I have no clue about the others because I have not seen them play yet. Can Pollard carry the load in your estimation?

I don't think Pollard can be the type of back that Zeke was at his peak..He's not built for it both in terms of body type OR stamina. But again in this offensive philosophy he won't have to be. What makes him special is the threat of explosive plays at any point in time. A steady diet of 20+ carry games will take that away from him. Just look at his two starts with Zeke out. He was magnificent on 15 touches against Da Bears totaling 150+ yards and almost 10 yards per touch and 3 TDs. Even though the Bears defense stunk that was a helluva show! The following week against Green Bay was pretty different. The numbers look decent on the surface.. 22 carries 115 yards 1 TD.. but ZERO explosive (> 20 yard) plays and < 4 ypc on totes in the 4th quarter until a 10 yarder against prevent defense with seconds on the clock made the numbers a little prettier. We needed a horse to ride to move the chains, eat clock and either punch it in or kick a couple of insurance field goals. We didn't get any of that. Then the following week with Zeke back he goes off again in the big play department against Minny.

My sense is that they need to keep Pollard fresh to have him at his most effective. His running style scares defenses but it doesn't wear on them. But there's a way to use a back that size and style and still win games. It's going to look different for sure, but that doesn't mean it can't be successful. They just can't try to turn the kid into Zeke. He aint built for that.

 

[blueblood70]

Yawn... another attempt to bash Zeke? Pass..

As if Zeke was the last player to get a big contract I mean they’re at least five I can think of Henry Jones Christian McCaffrey Alvin Kamara Dalvin Cook I mean they got a big and if you look at Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey both since I got paid have not done anything super impressive production has been subpar with the teams that gave him the money before Z has nothing to do with this since five other running backs have got paid. They literally should think Zeke and the fact is since there’s been other running backs who have not lived up to their contract since then it’s their fault I blame Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara I do not got who got paid last but they are not living up to their deals

 

[blueblood70]

yes it is his fault, opposite of a team friendly deal and STRAIGHT declined after the day he signed on the paper...now you tell me what other teams are thinking?

L.Bell just admitted he was stupid for leaving the Steelers on the tag, and rightfully so he was a wasted played after 1 year off. Teams are looking at these guys like yeah... you want to take a year off? Go ahead... you'll be even cheaper when you come back...they have zero leverage after Bell and Zeke fell off a cliff from their contracts so it is Zeke's fault. If Zeke took less money or was playing up to par, maybe someone would think of dishing out some money. Todd Gurley actually started this whole Fiasco and the LA Rams.

Wrong! Some of you must have selective memory first off right before Zink got paid they were at least four running backs making about 10 million and yes girl he got a really big deal and Zeke at that point earn his money and he demanded to get paid and he did however since then there’s been at least five other running backs that I’ve got a big money and a couple aren’t producing that means Zink is off the hook he wasn’t the last one in this chain

Yawn... another attempt to bash Zeke? Pass..

As if Zeke was the last player to get a big contract I mean they’re at least five I can think of Henry Jones Christian McCaffrey Alvin Kamara Dalvin Cook I mean they got a big and if you look at Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey both since I got paid have not done anything super impressive production has been subpar with the teams that gave him the money before Z has nothing to do with this since five other running backs have got paid. They literally should think Zeke and the fact is since there’s been other running backs who have not lived up to their contract since then it’s their fault I blame Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara I do not got who got paid last but they are not living up to their deals

 

[mcmvp]

..yep, him too. Gurley was most obvious skidmark, I think.

No, it was not Gurley either. I think this really began all the way back with Shaun Alexander. This guy had more yards and over double the TDs in the 2005 season alone than he did in his following three seasons combined. Yet Seattle paid him $24 million over those three seasons of low production. Now try to translate that $24 million over three years in 2005 into today’s salary numbers.

The devaluation of RBs has been happening for quite some time… It just seems to be a media topic these days

 

[5Stars]

I don't think Pollard can be the type of back that Zeke was at his peak..He's not built for it both in terms of body type OR stamina. But again in this offensive philosophy he won't have to be. What makes him special is the threat of explosive plays at any point in time. A steady diet of 20+ carry games will take that away from him. Just look at his two starts with Zeke out. He was magnificent on 15 touches against Da Bears totaling 150+ yards and almost 10 yards per touch and 3 TDs. Even though the Bears defense stunk that was a helluva show! The following week against Green Bay was pretty different. The numbers look decent on the surface.. 22 carries 115 yards 1 TD.. but ZERO explosive (> 20 yard) plays and < 4 ypc on totes in the 4th quarter until a 10 yarder against prevent defense with seconds on the clock made the numbers a little prettier. We needed a horse to ride to move the chains, eat clock and either punch it in or kick a couple of insurance field goals. We didn't get any of that. Then the following week with Zeke back he goes off again in the big play department against Minny.

My sense is that they need to keep Pollard fresh to have him at his most effective. His running style scares defenses but it doesn't wear on them. But there's a way to use a back that size and style and still win games. It's going to look different for sure, but that doesn't mean it can't be successful. They just can't try to turn the kid into Zeke. He aint built for that.

Who will pick up the blitz? Dak could get hurt if he is not protected.

 

[gimmesix]

... We know and they know. When Zeke got paid $$$$$, his stats became lower as years went forward. Instead of keeping pace, he declined.
I know he instilled some injuries, but the offset has been greater than expected.

Chargers RB, Austin Ekeler, now concerned with stigma, of whats seem to be occurring with RB's around the league Also take note of Barkley situation.

Using the franchise tag on them. Might be route to go.

Eklers scoop about it: RB Stigma

Christian McCaffrey signed a 4-year, $64-million contract in 2020. Alvin Kamara signed a 5-year, $75-million contract that same year. Dalvin Cook got a 5-year, $63 million deal that same year. Derrick Henry got a 4-year, $50-million deal then, and Joe Mixon a 4-year, $48-million. Zeke's 6-year, $90 million deal was signed the previous year.

Zeke's contract may have been a factor, but the next year seems to have pushed GMs over the edge concerning running backs. While Mixon's was the lowest in 2020 for top backs, Aaron Jones' 4-year, $48-million deal in 2021 was the highest, I believe, while Nick Chubb got a three-year, $36-million deal that year. I think teams decided from Gurley, through Zeke through the 2020 group that enough was enough.

 

[gimmesix]

first of all, splitting carries with pollard, injuries etc and still get 90 yards and 12tds is hardly less then expected all these carries later.

so no, it wasn't as zeke had a much better start to his career and earn the money as some of these others have been injured a lot at the beginning of their careers and are just now getting more carries and more snaps and our course their stats are going up!

zeke nearly had three rushing titles in a row, he led the league in rushing his first three years in the league and then still was top three in scrimmage yards in year 4 (2019)

so he earned his money,

we all know in 2020 there were 17 injuries and 11 different offensive line combos and no quarterback and in 2021 he started out the season 5 yards per carry until mid season, he hurt his knee then he started out near 5 yards per carry in 2022 and got hit in the thigh and knee and the offensive line shuffling and then you add in Kellen Moore to his career the expectations is on the fan base...

It's not on zeke he did not kill the running back position look at his career stats his accomplishments and all the carries he had the two great years at Ohio State that got him picked 4th overall and then what he did up till then he earned it....

what you're jealous?? the rest of the NFL running backs are jealous because he was smart enough to get paid ??

no zeke was not the downfall of the running backs there are probably ten others that were around 10 to $12 million that didn't even come near the production there were reasons other than his age and his workload, what you mentioned injuries there for sure part of it.. But when you can split carries and still come up with close to 900 yards and double digit touchdowns while injured that's not washed and that is not embarrassing it just happens. I agree with him being cut to save money on the cap don't get me wrong it was time but this is ridiculous they're blaming him for their issues..

worse was Gurley, David Johnson and others.. I'm not gonna go back and research all the contracts that were given around the same time or right before zeke that made him want that money and he got it and many of those did not have great success.. This is simply a league wide change in philosophy past happy league running backs are still important but they're finding out running back by committee changing running backs every four to five years it's not much of A drop off that's just a reality has nothing to do with zeke.

Alvin Kamara five years $75 million right before the 2020 season so the last 2 years hes better then zeke how?? Cmac same thing these dudes got paid after zeke and hasn't done much not much more you got an injured slower much more heavy carry see that seems to be holding his own against the other dudes that got paid outside of Henry.

Year	Team	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	REC
2022	Saints	223	897	4.0	2	57
2021	Saints	240	898	3.7	4	47
2020	Saints	187	932	5.0	16	83

McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64 million contract with Carolina in April of 2020, with cap hits of $8.7 million in 2022, $19.5 million in 2023, $19.5 million 2024 and $15.4 million in 2025 this day sure gets overrated by a lot of guys in here and he was traded but still what did he do in 2020 and beyond..

Year	Team	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	REC
2022	49ers	159	746	4.7	6	52
2022	Panthers	85	393	4.6	2	33
2021	Panthers	99	442	4.5	1	37
2020	Panthers	59	225	3.8	5	17

You beat me to it. Posted while I was composing, I guess.