N.F.L.’s Big Running Back Deals Will Lead to Sour Grapes – The New York Times

Of the 15 running backs who hurried for over 1,000 rushing yards last season, 12 of them were on their original rookie agreements and 13 of them were 25 or younger. Cook rushed for 50 lawns and 2 goals on 12 carries, while his minimum-wage backup, Alexander Mattison, rushed for a similar 50 lawns on 6 brings. Malcolm Brown, Gurleys affordable replacement for the Rams, hurried for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Gurley acquired 56 yards and had one goal for the Falcons.
Some groups likewise simply desire to reward effective employees like Kamara and Cook for their hard work.

Nobody actually denies that Cook, Kamara and the others work players who help their groups win. However the college ranks produce dozens of burly, quick, figured out and affordable rushes in every draft class, while the rigors of plunging into the teeth of N.F.L. defenses quickly wear down all however the rarest backs.
The difference in marginal value in between a 26-year-old All-Pro with 1,000 expert brings on his odometer and the typical midround novice doesnt come close to the expenses: approximately $12 million each year for the veteran, less than $2 million for the novice.
Of the 15 running backs who rushed for over 1,000 rushing lawns last season, 12 of them were on their initial novice contracts and 13 of them were 25 or more youthful. Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys was last seasons only 1,000-yard rusher who was playing on an agreement extension for the team that had actually prepared him.
Last weekends action had lots of examples of the recklessness of overpaying running backs. Cook hurried for 50 lawns and 2 goals on 12 carries, while his minimum-wage backup, Alexander Mattison, rushed for a similar 50 lawns on 6 brings. Malcolm Brown, Gurleys low-cost replacement for the Rams, hurried for 79 backyards and 2 touchdowns, while Gurley gained 56 backyards and had one touchdown for the Falcons.
The Jacksonville Jaguars released Leonard Fournette instead of pay him Cook-Kamara money in late August; he hurried five times for 5 backyards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, while the undrafted Illinois State novice James Robinson got 90 lawns from scrimmage in Fournettes place in a Jaguars success.
General managers and coaches understand that running backs seldom pay dividends on lucrative agreements. McCaffrey and Kamara are flexible rushers and receivers, so they will age more gracefully! As for Cook, well, the Vikings merely enjoy paying retail for name brand names.
Some groups also simply want to reward successful workers like Kamara and Cook for their effort. Thats an admirable policy in a league that hardly ever does anything laudable. Young running backs offer jerseys, stimulate the fantasy industry, supply thrills and influence dreams; its tough to criticize their huge paydays without seeming like a discontented, myopic bean counter.