Raiders legend Allen: Team's stance on Jacobs' contract 'like collusion'
Las Vegas Raiders legend Marcus Allen slammed the team's approach to running back Josh Jacobs' contract situation Sunday.
"I'm just going to say it: It's almost like collusion," Allen said, according to the Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"They decided the running back position is one where the productivity is only for a short period of time, and instead of looking at each and every one individually, they have decided as a group that they're not going to pay them."
After Jacobs ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 7 win against the Houston Texans last season, Allen told owner Mark Davis, "You are going to have to pay this dude," according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.
Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tag worth $10.1 million and is not with the team at training camp. The two sides can no longer negotiate a long-term deal but can come to terms on a revised one-year contract.
"I can understand what (the running backs are) thinking and what they're feeling, so hopefully things get resolved. Because to me, he's the heart and soul of the team," Allen said, per Hill.
The 25-year-old Jacobs led the league in yards from scrimmage last season with 2,053. He's been with the Raiders since they selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jacobs has 4,740 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns in 60 career games. The Raiders kick off their season on Sept. 10 against the Denver Broncos.