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Derrick Henry, others speak out against Tweet pointing out devaluation of RB position at professional level
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Derrick Henry and several other current NFL running backs took to Twitter Monday afternoon to speak out against a concept brought up in a Tweet by ESPN draft scout Matt Miller.
The Tweet, which can be seen below, underlines the idea that the running back position is expendable in today’s NFL. The basic idea is 2-fold:
For one, running back is obviously a physical position that comes with plenty of injury concerns. Paying top dollar (a.k.a, a long-term contract) for an elite running back who could suffer a serious injury any given week is certainly a concern among front offices.
For another, Miller’s tweet follows the idea that good running backs are less valuable than, for example, good wide receivers, quarterbacks or even defensive stars because of this expendability.
Been saying it for years:
1. Draft a RB
2. Play the RB…if he’s good…
3. Franchise tag the RB ONE TIME
…and then…
1. Draft a RB…
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) July 17, 2023
Enter Henry, Austin Ekeler, Christian McCaffery, Jonathan Taylor and more. Several of the NFL’s top talents at the position took to Twitter to criticize Miller’s Tweet, saying the position should just be taken out of the game in Miller’s scenario.
See a few of the responses below:
At this point , just take the RB position out the game then . The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization , just seems like it don’t even matter . I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve . https://t.co/OgvBWZCKvn
— Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) July 17, 2023
1. If you’re good enough, they’ll find you.
2. If you work hard enough, you’ll succeed.
…If you succeed…
3. You boost the Organization
…and then…
Doesn’t matter, you’re a RB https://t.co/mG6In1ATGg
— Jonathan Taylor (@JayT23) July 17, 2023
This is the kind of trash that has artificially devalued one of the most important positions in the game. Everyone knows it’s tough to win without a top RB and yet they act like we are discardable widgets. I support any RB doing whatever it takes to get his bag. https://t.co/sRYfAKwrpQ
— Austin Ekeler (@AustinEkeler) July 17, 2023
Miller later responded to the criticism, saying he is merely pointing out the tactic used by NFL GMs today.
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl with no receivers having over 1000 yards and a starting RB drafted in Round 7.
Having a great RB is valuable but there’s a question of what that value is.
I didn’t make the rules. I’m just pointing them out. https://t.co/RusqpcU1dN
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) July 17, 2023
This entire debate was likely brought up following the news that Josh Jacobs and Saquan Barkley failed to reach long-term agreements with their respective teams ahead of the NFL’s 4 p.m. deadline Monday afternoon.
They must now either play under the franchise tag or hold out, potentially into the regular season.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
