Najee may be a pain to sign come time

[Dwinsgames]

if so so be it , I do not believe he is all that and a bag of chips anyways ...


https://www.wpxi.com/rss-snd/steelers-rb-najee-harris-attends-zoom-meeting-fix-rb-market/D7IJ637SMVBLBMSRDBPPGPI4GE/

[vasteeler]

It's an unfortunate spot for running backs. With a great offensive line an average running back can look all team.

[Orion]

no Najee you dont set the tone. if he has been "setting the tone" for the team the last few years, then we definitely need a new tone setter.

[86WARD]

All RBs will be a pain to sign…they’re all in some kind of movement to get paid more, and rightfully so. No starting RB should be getting paid less than backup WR money…

On no planet should Austin Ekeler be paid less than Russell Gage, Allen Robinson or Cedric Wilson…that’s insane…

[polamalubeast]

It's not a concern for me...One, the RBs are right (86Ward is 100% right since average WRs shouldn't have more than top RBs) and also Harris needs to be much better in 2023 for that it start to be a concern...I believe Harris will be better in 2023 with a better o-line but I don't believe he will have the power to holdout since the Steelers won't be concerned enough about that

[Born2Steel]

Christian McCaffrey is sympathetic.

[Mojouw]

Football coaches LOVE to talk about using the run game to "set the tone" and have the rushing attack "drive the offense". So it isn't hard to see how any RB would take that attitude about their role within a given team.

The harsh reality is that, and this is as a TOTAL outsider, it seems that RB is one of the smoothest transitions from all levels of the NCAA to the NFL. The most I ever hear about a RB needing to do is to improve their pass pro or develop a bit more patience. But you don't seem to hear about the steep technical learning curve that gets talked about at other positions. If that is the case - then all these RBs are totally screwed because there are how many RBs coming out of the college ranks every year? And the NFL views those guys as literally plug and play.

I think Harris is a really talented RB but I also think it doesn't matter. I wouldn't resign a RB to a second contract unless he was HOF caliber.

[Dwinsgames]

Football coaches LOVE to talk about using the run game to "set the tone" and have the rushing attack "drive the offense". So it isn't hard to see how any RB would take that attitude about their role within a given team.

The harsh reality is that, and this is as a TOTAL outsider, it seems that RB is one of the smoothest transitions from all levels of the NCAA to the NFL. The most I ever hear about a RB needing to do is to improve their pass pro or develop a bit more patience. But you don't seem to hear about the steep technical learning curve that gets talked about at other positions. If that is the case - then all these RBs are totally screwed because there are how many RBs coming out of the college ranks every year? And the NFL views those guys as literally plug and play.

I think Harris is a really talented RB but I also think it doesn't matter. I wouldn't resign a RB to a second contract unless he was HOF caliber.

he has many of the tools but his lack of burst and top gear is evident .... for what it is worth

[Mojouw]

he has many of the tools but his lack of burst and top gear is evident .... for what it is worth

Agreed. And for that reason alone --- why resign him? You can find another guy with power and the ability to catch passes.

[DuckHodges]

i don't blame him for wanting more money. but recent history has shown that the Steelers FO won't overpay for a RB. He will get a good deal with that said, the rest is up to him.

Khan will give him fair market value, no more.

[Edman]

The game is evolving and reality has hit hard for the running back.

[Orion]

i don't blame him for wanting more money. but recent history has shown that the Steelers FO won't overpay for a RB. He will get a good deal with that said, the rest is up to him.

Khan will give him fair market value, no more.
i dont know about that. they were prepared to overpay Bell. thank god he was a bigger fool than they were.

[EzraTank]

Just look at this year's situation ... The Giants, and Raiders both didn't sign their franchise backs after their rookie deals.

Look at Leveon Bell, and Ezekiel Elliott. Both were let go to walk.

In today's NFL teams spend their big money on QB's and the days of pound the ground are over. The RB position is better filled by young guys and after their rookie deals their bodies are toast.

[Dwinsgames]

Just look at this year's situation ... The Giants, and Raiders both didn't sign their franchise backs after their rookie deals.

Look at Leveon Bell, and Ezekiel Elliott. Both were let go to walk.

In today's NFL teams spend their big money on QB's and the days of pound the ground are over. The RB position is better filled by young guys and after their rookie deals their bodies are toast.

well the raiders kind of screwed the pooch ,the declined the 5th year option now have to pay the tag price which is higher , just cant make this shit up

[polamalubeast]

well the raiders kind of screwed the pooch ,the declined the 5th year option now have to pay the tag price which is higher , just cant make this shit up

Josh McDaniels and the raiders are a perfect match!

[Dwinsgames]

Josh McDaniels and the raiders are a perfect match!

what are the odds he is fired before the season ends in year 2 of his deal like he was in Denver after decimating their roster (this is a carbon copy approach it seems)

[BlackAndGold]

I like Najee and I expect he'll have a big year but at this moment from what he has done, no one will be paying him money.

RB's in general, outside of generation backs who can flat-out carry an offense are not worthy of long term big pay days. Draft them, run the wheels off them and draft another one, preferably outside of round 1.

[Edman]

Just look at this year's situation ... The Giants, and Raiders both didn't sign their franchise backs after their rookie deals.

Look at Leveon Bell, and Ezekiel Elliott. Both were let go to walk.

In today's NFL teams spend their big money on QB's and the days of pound the ground are over. The RB position is better filled by young guys and after their rookie deals their bodies are toast.

Pound the Ground is still effective, but the Bellcow back is going extinct. These new backs are slimmer, smaller, and quicker to be effective in the passing game. Even Najee Harris, who is a "power" runner, only clocks in at 242, when the typical big back in the day is in the 245-260 range, and he's not very fast or shifty.

[Born2Steel]

I have never been a fan of taking a RB/WR/TE in the 1st round. That said, a WR or TE can play themselves into 1st round value. The issue with a RB is the more he produces on the field, the more wear and tear he is accumulating, and he's actually decreasing in value for his 2nd contract. Yes I know, RBs make more on their 2nd contract than on their rookie contract. I'm talking about his value. A team takes a RB in the 1st round for a 4yr rookie contract. If they are worthy, they get a 5th yr team option enacted. Then, they can be franchise tagged, I believe thrice. That is potentially 8 years without a 2nd contract and now they are usually backup material, if that.

Najee will make $13M for his 4yrs
Edwards-Helaire made $5M on his 5th yr option
RBs tag number is $10M year1
year2 $12M
year3 $17M

Forgive my math but by my count if Najee signed up for these 'options', he could make a total of $57M over an 8yr career. Roughly $7M/yr.

I understand why RBs are frustrated. Maybe teams are being smart taking a RB in the 1st round.

[Dwinsgames]

I have never been a fan of taking a RB/WR/TE in the 1st round. That said, a WR or TE can play themselves into 1st round value. The issue with a RB is the more he produces on the field, the more wear and tear he is accumulating, and he's actually decreasing in value for his 2nd contract. Yes I know, RBs make more on their 2nd contract than on their rookie contract. I'm talking about his value. A team takes a RB in the 1st round for a 4yr rookie contract. If they are worthy, they get a 5th yr team option enacted. Then, they can be franchise tagged, I believe thrice. That is potentially 8 years without a 2nd contract and now they are usually backup material, if that.

Najee will make $13M for his 4yrs
Edwards-Helaire made $5M on his 5th yr option
RBs tag number is $10M year1
year2 $12M
year3 $17M

Forgive my math but by my count if Najee signed up for these 'options', he could make a total of $57M over an 8yr career. Roughly $7M/yr.

I understand why RBs are frustrated. Maybe teams are being smart taking a RB in the 1st round.

draft 1 in round 1 and if he proves to be a worthy pick and you follow this plan and bail out after year 6 (production usually starts falling soon there after anyways ) you will have paid roughly 40 million and got the best years out of them already most times ....

[EzraTank]

Yes it's a hard position but I bet a lot of Americans wouldn't mind making close to $60 million over 8 years. Hell, I would invest that money and NEVER work again after the age of 32.

[Dwinsgames]

Yes it's a hard position but I bet a lot of Americans wouldn't mind making close to $60 million over 8 years. Hell, I would invest that money and NEVER work again after the age of 32.

put it in a asverage mutualfund account and you could live off the interest if you didnt spend like a fool ...

46,700 per year in interest per million ... so 11 million in bank gets you a half million per year to live on ..I think I could "survive" on that how about the rest of you

[steelreserve]

The thing about RBs is you just need a decent one. The difference between the best RB in the league and a pretty good RB is probably the lowest of any position except maybe individual offensive linemen. And pretty good running backs are everywhere.

One thing I agree with is that backup WRs don't shouldn't be making more than starting RBs. But that is more like, shitty second and third receivers don't need to be making $13 million a season, not that they should get that much and others should get paid more to match that stupidity.

[Mojouw]

If I was directly responsible for 25-40% of my workplace’s production and completely influencing most of the rest as well as being told my actions set the entire tone for everything my unit did each workday - I would want premium compensation as well.

Even if I was making life changing money; my pride and sense of value would be pissed that some dude who works less than I do and has a significantly lower impact on outcomes would be getting paid 5 times what I am.

That’s basically the RB and 2-3 WR balance.

As was pointed out that’s out of balance.

[Orion]

If I was directly responsible for 25-40% of my workplace’s production and completely influencing most of the rest as well as being told my actions set the entire tone for everything my unit did each workday - I would want premium compensation as well.

Even if I was making life changing money; my pride and sense of value would be pissed that some dude who works less than I do and has a significantly lower impact on outcomes would be getting paid 5 times what I am.

That’s basically the RB and 2-3 WR balance.

As was pointed out that’s out of balance.

and then you get injured and are out for a few weeks and the backup RB comes in and delivers 95% of your production at 10% of your salary. and everyone be like...:scratchchin: hmmmmm

[Steel Maniac]

Who cares? Just draft another one in the later rounds and keep it moving.

[Craic]

put it in a asverage mutualfund account and you could live off the interest if you didnt spend like a fool ...

46,700 per year in interest per million ... so 11 million in bank gets you a half million per year to live on ..I think I could "survive" on that how about the rest of you
The problem with that is if there's downturn in the market you could lose all your income for the year. So, you need to put at least some of it in low risk, guaranteed reward accounts. But those will pay about 1 to 3 percent interest. So, at 11 million, you're looking at about $16,500 a month after taxes. Still not bad at all. But at the rate of inflation, that's going to be middle class in about ten years and lower middle class in about thirty. So, you'll have to put three or four thousand of that away to reinvest to beat inflation.