How to Fix the RB Compensation Issue

[Neil039]

Millionaires upset because they want to get paid more. I think every single player in the league is grossly over paid, IMO. A players valve is based off need.

 

[Kupped]

You are correct that its not a completely open market in the sense that the consumers (teams) are capped in what they are allowed to spend. That said, the way teams allocate their capped resources to one position over another is certainly driven by supply/demand and cost/benefit analyses that are typical of a market system.

Carve outs for RBs, such as the one you suggest, are difficult. Would it lead to RBs being paid more, or would teams gravitate towards more a two-back/platoon system to avoid the escalators?

Another thought could be to mix all skill players (RB, WR, TE) into a single category for the purposes of setting franchise tag prices. RBs and TEs would cheer such a change. WRs would despise it. Can't please everyone!

There’s already a performance pool, so it’s not too far-fetched.

You bring up good points about unintended consequences… but teams will most likely deploy players in a manner that benefits them most on the field.

Heard the same discussion about pooling skill positions on The Athletic earlier this week… intriguing.
Either way, it looks like this is turning into a real issue for the league, so I expect some changes.

 

[Kupped]

Millionaires upset because they want to get paid more. I think every single player in the league is grossly over paid, IMO. A players valve is based off need.

They are the product and their careers are short.

 

[Neil039]

They are the product and their careers are short.

I understand. IMO it’s similar to joining the military but thinking that’s all you are. They make 100x’s more than the average person will in a few years compared to a life time. Can’t see the use is arguing over millionaire problems.

 

[thirteen28]

I don't know the solution to the problem, but at the same time, save for the rare franchise back types (Gurley, Faulk, Dickerson, etc.), RB's are mostly a dime a dozen and easily replaceable. That fact drives down their value as much as anything else.

Maybe one solution is to just keep it mostly the way it is but eliminate the 5th year option for 1st rounders. If someone has proven to be a true franchise back of the caliber I mentioned above, they'll probably get paid after 4 years (assuming good health). But if they're not that, well they are probably replaceable by a draft pick.

It sucks, but reality is what it is. I do wish there were more franchise backs though.

 

[Kupped]

I understand. IMO it’s similar to joining the military but thinking that’s all you are. They make 100x’s more than the average person will in a few years compared to a life time. Can’t see the use is arguing over millionaire problems.

I guess I don’t look at it as millionaire problems. I just look at as people getting what they’re worth.
“Worth” here… is, of course, relative… they’re worth related to the product.

 

[Merlin]

The talent drain at the position will hurt the sport. How many HS and college RBs will switch positions with this?

Not true Mack. Because what we wish for is not reality.

They can wish to be a WR all the want but when they're running routes vs fucking gazelles and they're a caveman what they want or wish isn't gonna factor in. This is life. They won't be good enough. Very few RBs are. Funny how the position that translates on defense to the RB spot is Safety. Which is also underpaid. Supply and demand is at play here.

The market is the market. They're gonna be marginalized until they aren't. And the kids in college are gonna get a free fucking education plus paychecks even if they stay at RB. The world will keep turning. They'll make a ton of money and statistically will end up blowing through it all but they'll always have Paris.

 

[oldnotdead]

This is a consequence of the emphasis on passing. When teams wanted the run game to be their emphasis of the offense then teams paid them accordingly. Now the run is used to set up the passing game. Damn few offenses strive for balance. Get rid of the cap if that is what they want....oh yeah the cap was to bring parity to the league. You can't tell teams how to spend their money. Fine then cap the percentage of the cap that can be spent on a QB1. The money goes just so far. Oh wait, then the overpaid QBs like Murray and Watson would be crying foul. As long as the NFL doesn't control the spending on QBs then RBs will not get paid. Besides, it's the guys on the OL that really do the work so if anyone in the run game is underpaid it's not the RBs.

Evans was drafted as a Akers replacement if he want's too much as far as the Rams are concerned. What the stupid greedy RBs should do is take a lesser amount but increase the percentage of guaranteed money. In reality that's the only parameter that matters, everything else is ego fodder. I'd bet the Rams wouldn't balk at a 4 yr $8M contract fully guaranteed for Cam. Cam's contract guarantees him $3.5M so where else could he earn that kind of money in 4 years? He will get another contract either from the Rams or someone else. He could easily earn another $4M on that contract. If he has blown through his first millions that's on him. The bottom line is that if he has a decent financial plan he's set for the rest of his life. Even conservatively if he walks away with $4M in the bank after his career that's about a minimum of $80K per year for the rest of his life. He could live comfortably and never work again. Where is a kid going to make that kind of money?

Sorry, I didn't raise my boy to be a fool. He's got a plan on how he's going to build himself a solid life with his own hard work. Life has knocked him down but he got right back up. So I have zero sympathy for spoiled millionaire athletes. His boss told him he's on track to be a major earner pulling down close to $200K / yr average within 18 months. He talked to me about how he's going to protect that income. So when I listen to athletes whining I think fuck them they need to get into the real world and try to make a living.

 

[So Ram]

Maybe they could go back to school to FINISH the education that was PAID for them, there's an idea!

Maybe ticket prices should be lowered? Lol - your post is entertainment.

Stetson Bennett made Georgia how much money? That TV money there.

Maybe student debt should be erased or interest free if being paid off on time ?

Maybe Joe Patterno’s statue should be replaced by Barkley’s

 

[RamDino]

Here is a "what if" scenario... imaging paying the QB like the current RB's are getting paid. You draft a QB and utilize him for the next 4-5 years then let him go before paying him that second contract (unless he's Mahomes or Herbert for example). There are really only a few great ones, and the mediocre QB's are still getting 40 million per year (like Daniel Jones). Then teams will have 40 million per year to spend on other positions, and can probably find pro-bowlers to fill 3 or 4 other positions. If you can build a solid roster around the QB, you can get to the super bowl. When your current QB is in year 6, let him go and find another. Lord knows there are several experienced QB's available every year just looking for an opportunity like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Andy Dalton, etc.

This is what makes the niners roster so scary, but they didn't plan this strategy, it just worked out that way. Build the roster, then find a QB who can play mistake-free football. I will admit, I am a bit concerned that Sam Darnold, not Brock Purdy, can take that team to new heights.

 

[Merlin]

The beauty of Shanny is that he provides a run game. And most QBs in this league can look decent with a strong run game.

But where it really gets beautiful is that in the playoffs there will usually be a defense or two who can stifle that run game. And then the Shitters get eliminated.

I do agree though that I am terrified by the possibility that they will get someone to pull a Dilfer and not hurt the team enough to win it all. That would suck.

 

[Faceplant]

 

[lordbannon]

I feel like the solution here - if we're going with the "RBs are underpaid", which I'm not arguing either way - is to make some sort of salary cap exception for injury. So if a player has an injury that will cause them to miss a season (or a large stretch of time), the player's salary (or part of it) doesn't count towards the cap. These percentages can be massaged in any direction until everyone is happy.

Obviously teams and players will try to exploit this in some way, so I feel like it would require sign off from multiple doctors - Say one of the Team's choice, one of the player's choice, and one impartial NFL doctor. If the doctors don't all sign off on it, so be it. No change to the contract, it still counts towards the cap. Additionally, it wouldn't apply to a new contract for someone who is currently injured - so you couldn't pick up an Odell last year, give him $100 million while hurt, and then have salaries of nothing for the next two years.

Make it blanket, for all players - but it would impact positions with high chance of injury the most. It also stops a team from being up a creek without a paddle when their superstar has a career ending injury right after signing that big contract.

I don't see a ton of downside here, but I'm sure there is something I'm missing.

 

[oldnotdead]

The cap is finite and the RBs complaining don't seem to care that every dollar they make is one less for someone else. This is simple greed at it's worst. When teams wake up and realize a mediocre QB1 isn't worth the mega contracts they are getting then other positions will get paid.

QBs play every snap, other than OL that really can't be said of any other position. QBs read the field and need to change plays if they see the play is wrong. In other words, they do more than RBs so yeah they make more. RBs are more akin to WRs except for one thing. A good RB is easier to find in every draft It's a matter of supply and demand economics. Old school teams would draft their RBs in the second thru fourth round. Their value change has more to do with the evolution of the NFL offenses into pass first schemes. Runs set up the pass. Until that changes there is no reason to overpay for RBs.

Teams that prioritize run over pass are in a world of hurt in games where they get behind. Until the NFL adopts a rule where the clock stops with each first down. Case in point the clock stops with an incomplete pass. Teams that are trailing late must pass and pretty much abandon the run game. So the nature of the game also works against RBs. That's why good WRs will always be more valuable to teams than RBs.

 

[Neil039]

I guess I don’t look at it as millionaire problems. I just look at as people getting what they’re worth.
“Worth” here… is, of course, relative… they’re worth related to the product.

And this is why I like your posts. You keep it real without making it an attack.

 

[oldnotdead]

Just one additional comment. Zach Evans is exactly why the RB market is soft. If Akers isn't extended and there is a strong possibility he won't be, Evans and RBs like him are the reason why. In every draft you can find good talent in the mid to late rounds. If Evans plays like I think he will the Rams will have a #1 RB for cheap for the next 4 years. In his contract year they will simply do it again. Evans was felt last year by many evaluators to have mid to late first round talent. Behavioral issues are what dropped him and IMO that lesson will be taken to heart. He will see how much money his immaturity cost him.

Akers is making himself into the type of RB that is what the Rams need. Evans already is that kind of RB. He's a one cut and go power runner with good speed who also has big hands to protect the ball and make him a legitimate receiver. The only thing he doesn't do is pass block but that is a learned skill. IMO he will be the #2RB by December. If the OL improves as much as I think they will over the course of the season, there will be less need for a pass blocking RB (Williams). IMO Akers will be playing for his next contract on another team. I hope it's outside of the NFCW.

Over the long term Evans could be looked upon as one of the steals of this draft. I think Snead absolutely nailed this draft. This is a true foundational draft class.

 

[dieterbrock]

I guess I don’t look at it as millionaire problems. I just look at as people getting what they’re worth.
“Worth” here… is, of course, relative… they’re worth related to the product.

Exactly.
And in Barkley's case he's now in the top 3 highest paid RB category, and he's certainly worth it as a top 3 RB

 

[Kupped]

Exactly.
And in Barkley's case he's now in the top 3 highest paid RB category, and he's certainly worth it as a top 3 RB

For one year.
We know that's not what a fair contract looks like for what Saquon produces and what he meant to wins and losses on that team.
RBs have shorter careers for a reason and now, their pay is being pushed down by artificial pressures (the salary cap and franchise number).
I don't know.. maybe you just remove the franchise tag for the RB position and see what that does to the pay.

 

[RamInferno]

The basic idea is that only an initial salary amount (to be agreed upon by the Owners and Union) would count $-for-$ against the cap.

Say $6M (I chose it randomly but it would be negotiated) is that number.

The first $6M would count $6M against the salary cap … dollar-for-dollar.

Any excess would count Fifty-Percent against the cap.

Then the 49'ers try to reclassify Deebo as a running back and sign another player using the saved cap space.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Then the 49'ers try to reclassify Deebo as a running back and sign another player using the saved cap space.

Then the League simply denies the 49ers' attempt to arbitrarily re-classify a WR to a RB.

San Francisco could try to make a case for it but that would be subject to review and approval by the League.