(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The NFL has received immense criticism as of late, mainly due to the current state of the running back position.
This has been brought to light recently, given that Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard were all denied contract extensions.
They’ll now either have to play under the franchise tag, or sit out for the upcoming season in hopes of getting an extension in the 2024 offseason.
Many players have publicly voiced their concerns with the current situation, including Austin Ekeler.
Ekeler appeared on the Zach Gelb Show, saying: “Really, what we want answers from, is the ownership.”
Austin Ekeler wants to hear from #NFL owners as to why running backs aren’t getting paid.
Full Zach Gelb Show chat on @CBSSportsRadio with @AustinEkeler here: https://t.co/EYA6ZoxIsf pic.twitter.com/Efu8RIf3Hl
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) July 18, 2023
Ekeler has become the spokesperson for fellow running backs, trying to get some semblance of an answer from league owners.
In Ekeler’s eyes, not paying running backs has become a “trend,” and unless something is done about it, this could continue for years to come.
Running back is still a valuable position in the NFL, as Ekeler details.
“We’re out there carrying the ball for you 400 times per year,” Ekeler said as part of his justification.
He did recognize the importance of the positions that his teammates play, such as quarterback and wide receiver.
However, Ekeler and several other running backs have expressed that, frankly, the current situation is unfair to them.
Ekeler’s interview with Gelb is a call to action for NFL owners, and he has demanded answers from them about the 2023 season and beyond.
Given the current magnitude and number of players to speak out about this, it’s only a matter of time before the owners respond.
The post Austin Ekeler Calls Out NFL Owners Over Running Back Contracts appeared first on The Cold Wire.