Running backs are taking a beating at the negotiating table, and Derrick Henry is fed up with it.
On the day that Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were all officially left without long-term contract extensions, meaning they must play this season on the franchise tag, Henry took to Twitter and forcefully stuck up for his fellow ballcarriers.
“At this point, just take the RB position out the game then,” Henry wrote. “The ones that want to be great and work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization, just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve.”
At this point , just take the RB position out the game then . The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization , just seems like it don’t even matter . I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve . https://t.co/OgvBWZCKvn
— Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) July 17, 2023
While rushing attacks still matter in the NFL, individual running backs are being valued less and less.
That’s why Jacobs and Barkley, two of the best at the position, were not able to secure lucrative long-term deals and why Joe Mixon, another standout back, had to take a pay cut recently. Dalvin Cook, who has posted four-straight 1,000-yard seasons, was let go by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason and remains unsigned.
Henry, who is in the final year of a 4-year, $50 million contract, has been the focal point of the Tennessee Titans’ offense over the last five seasons.
Back in the day, that meant a running back was arguably the most important player on his team. That’s not always the case anymore.