Chargers News: Austin Ekeler Speaks Out on Running Back Disrespect in Modern NFL

The Chargers RB isn't happy with where things stand around the league.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was a part of his team's mandatory minicamp recently, but the seven-year NFL veteran came to Costa Mesa without a new contract in hand.

The Bolts and their starting ball carrier where unable to work out a long term deal this offseason, but Ekeler did say he was willing to negotiate during the season, something that figures to be a good sign for the team.

That said, Ekeler, 28, isn't satisfied with how running backs are treated when it comes to those all-important dollars, per Alex Insdorf of USA Today Sports' Chargers Wire, who laid out what the Bolts' back said during his media availability.

Us as running backs, sure people say we get hurt, everyone gets hurt in the NFL. But just as far as players in general, we only have a certain amount of time to play this game. And to say, ‘nope, you’re gonna have to risk it all again on a one year guaranteed contract’ and to tell somebody that, put them in that situation, and not give them a choice…it’s just tough for me to accept, even though it is the way it is.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler, per Chargers Wire's Alex Insdorf

As far as an NFL running back's career length, Ekeler has a point.

Ball carrier's seem to decline around the age of 30, in stark contrast to other positions, so they do have less time to cash in compared to the rest of their NFL bretheren.

But therein lies the problem for Ekeler.

Ultimately, NFL front offices won't be as inclined to sign running backs to long term, cash laden contracts due to their earlier decline.

The most recent example of this early downturn would be former Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott.

The 27 year old was released earlier this offseason following a year where he was firmly supplanted by 26 year old Tony Pollard. And Elliott's last truly notable season was when he rushed for over 1,300 as a 24 year old in 2019. After that, it was a steady decline for the back from that point.

Unfortunately for Ekeler and other running backs, its simply a case of return on investment for front offices.

For the most part, ball carriers simply don't provide enough long term bang for their buck to justify that investment, leaving many of them with the short end of the stick in contract negotiations.