Jaguars' Travis Etienne nails it regarding running back salary controversy
You are whatever worth someone is willing to pay you. That mantra has rung true for years, and the NFL is no exception. With contracts soaring to all-time highs at positional groups across the league, one group is lagging behind: running backs. Several of the top backs in the league recently joined on a Zoom […]
You are whatever worth someone is willing to pay you.
That mantra has rung true for years, and the NFL is no exception. With contracts soaring to all-time highs at positional groups across the league, one group is lagging behind: running backs.
Several of the top backs in the league recently joined on a Zoom call to discuss the group as a whole not being paid what they believe is their true worth.
Nick Chubb, one of the highest paid backs in the league with a $12 million per year average annual contract value, admitted their hands were basically tied.
"Right now, there's really nothing we can do," Chubb said Sunday. "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." – ESPN.com
Chubb isn't completely right about there being nothing they can do. At least that's what Jaguars' running back Travis Etienne alluded to when speaking with the media on Saturday.
Etienne noted that the game is changing, and running backs must make themselves valuable by adapting with it.
Etienne is exactly right. He references McCaffrey as far as a player who has a diverse skillset and, as a result, has made himself valuable. Pass catching skills are a premium ability and a selling point for running backs in today's NFL.
In fact, among the top six spots for running backs in average annual contract value (AAV) include McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Tony Pollard, and Aaron Jones. All are outstanding receiving backs.
The other factor appears to be the type of offense the team runs. At least that accounts for two other running backs high in the AAV list: Chubb and Derrick Henry. Cleveland and Tennessee are very run-heavy teams, and both players have proven they are special with the ball in their hands. They're basically the focal point of each team's respective offenses. Not many teams are in those same circumstances.
So Etienne is largely correct about needing to have that receiving skillset. And with the opportunity to set a Jaguars mark by becoming the first back in franchise history to rush for 1200 yards and total 500 receiving yards, he's set to go out and prove that he indeed in that same category as the top-paid backs in the league.
If he earns that type of consideration, the Jaguars will have gotten all they could have hoped for and more from their young star running back.
Another star running back has Saquon Barkley’s back
He’s got good points, too.
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
