Star RBs hold Zoom meeting to discuss contract issues for position
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb was among many high-profile backs to participate in a Zoom call Saturday to discuss the state of the running back market.
The meeting, which was first reported by ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, was held as a response to the deflated market for running backs seeking a second contract following the inability of stars such as Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs to land extensions.
The meeting was organized by Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, per Florio. Chubb noted that Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey participated. Jacobs also attended, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported. The Browns running back went into detail about the difficulties facing the position.
"Right now, there's really nothing we can do," Chubb said Sunday, per ESPN. "We're kind of handcuffed with the situation. We're the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they're going to say, you're probably worn down. It's tough. ... It hurts us at the end of the day."
One topic discussed was agents creating faulty contracts by backloading running back contracts to inflate their value, Florio reports.
Though the state of the running back market has been a long-term issue, concern grew louder when Barkley, Jacobs, and Tony Pollard were the only franchise-tagged players unable to land long-term contracts before Monday's deadline. All three will be forced to play the 2023 season on a salary of $10.1 million, though Barkley and Jacobs could hold out through training camp and even the regular season since they haven't signed the tag.
"Saquon's a great player, and you can ask anyone around the league or even on the Giants how much he means to that team," Chubb added. "So, it's hard seeing him not get what he deserves."
Barkley and Jacobs' situation drew immense criticism from other running backs. McCaffrey called it "criminal," while Ekeler described the failed negotiations as the "kind of trash that has artificially devalued one of the most important positions."
Chubb is one of five running backs that average an annual value of $12 million or more, per Spotrac.