Former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III has a solution for all running backs to get what they deserve in the future.
The former NFL quarterback posted a recent video on social media that highlighted the need for drastic action after the likes of Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard struggled to land deals despite having stellar seasons with their respective teams.
The ex-NFL quarterback took to social media on Wednesday to propose a plan for running backs to lead the charge for all players to fix how they are treated by the teams and the NFL.
“Running backs have an opportunity in front of them to change the NFL forever
In the above video, Robert Griffin III went on for two minutes detailing his plan to fix the problem by pushing for an early renegotiation of the CBA.
“The only real solution to fix how running backs are treated when it’s time to get paid is a solution for all players. Running backs have to lead the charge in pushing for a renegotiation of the CBA. With the key points being that all rookies have three-year contracts regardless of their draft position and eliminating the franchise tag and transition tag for all players.”
“This solution wouldn’t just benefit running backs, but it would benefit all players by getting them to free agency faster… So, by restricting rookie contracts to three years and eliminating franchise and transition time, it would allow running backs to get to free agency faster and make top dollar during their prime earning years.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Griffin III added that the NFLPA cannot favor a single playing position when negotiating.
“But I’m telling you now haven’t been a player rep with the NFLPA, they would never negotiate a CBA based on one position because they have so many other players that they have to take care of. But if these new parameters apply to all players, and the players decided to unite as a whole, that would be a whole ‘nother story.”
He also made it clear that there are seven years left on the current CBA so running backs might have to lead a strike for an early renegotiation.
“But here’s the thing with seven years left on the current CBA, only way to get this done is to strike… First of all, the CBA has anti-strike language in it. But the players technically can’t strike but practically they can. And if the players want change, now, they have to be willing to go the extra mile. That’s a big ask… but in the end, it will be worth it.”
These changes, he argues, will expedite players to reach free agency, where they can make the most money.
Griffin joined ESPN in August 2021 and is a college football and NFL analyst across a number of shows. The Heisman Trophy winner and second-overall pick by Washington in 2012 was waived by the Ravens in January 2021, following three seasons with the organization and a slew of injuries.
In 56 career games, Griffin has thrown for 9,271 yards and 43 touchdowns while rushing for 1,809 yards and 10 scores.
