The NFL underpayment conundrum fails to die down with the new season just weeks away. After the confirmed extension of Saquon Barkley, the situation only develops for the worse with Jacobs yet to sign the franchise tag. The developments and alleged unfair treatment have resulted in Austin Ekeler calling out the league.

The fans have witnessed the standoffs this offseason which are a testament to RBs remaining undervalued. Following the offseason standoff, the stars who chose not to sign a new contract might face a similar situation with their next team in the coming years. This prompted the RBs to schedule a Zoom call last week following which Austin Ekeler sat down with USA Today and shared his insights.

Austin Ekeler aims at the NFL for their conduct

After the Zoom call from last week among some of the top RBs in the league, many would have hoped for a concrete outcome. But as things stand, the RBs will have to play the long game with respect to making a tangible difference. The state of affairs has left Austin Ekeler and possibly many of his fellow RBs irked and angered by their status in the league.

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While talking to USA Today, the Chargers RB shared, “It’s frustrating for us as running backs……You want us to be this pivotal point in your organization however you’re not gonna compensate us for that. You’re gonna come out and franchise tag us.” He talks about the Barkley and Jacobs situation and how they have been hamstrung by the franchise tag.

He added, “I want to attack it. I think it’s detrimental to us as players. You can look at any of the statistics.” His words will give many of the NFL community something to think about, but he is not the only one to come forward in the defense of the RBs. One of the top ESPN analysts recently shared his thoughts and believes the NFL screwed the Running Backs of the league.

Stephen A. Smith comes out swinging in defense of the RBs

Stephen A. Smith joined the NFL RB conversation with his latest YouTube upload. The analyst talked at length about how the NFL has screwed the RBs over the years. He’d call out the league for their alleged ageism that casts out the RBs once they hit an age closer to 30. He pointed to the Raiders and Giants RB who have been at odds with their franchise and struggling to agree for an extension.

The analyst laments their predicament and wishes that some change can happen that benefits the RBs. He’s only going to be joined by other vocal defenders as the situation continues to unfold. This could ultimately force the NFL community to revisit the terms that the RBs are handed for a fair outcome.

Ekeler and his fellow RBs indicate they will continue to talk within themselves to discuss what’s the next step. After what is believed to be a fruitful discussion, they will hope for a positive outcome for the RB position.

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