Eagles Rashaad Penny, D'Andre Swift Reveal Views on RB 'Value'
PHILADELPHIA – Running backs around the NFL are disgruntled. They simply aren’t feeling the love from owners when it comes time to get paid.
Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts is the latest running back to voice his displeasure, going public with his demand for a trade as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. There was a Zoom meeting recently with many of the top runners in the league, initiated by Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers.
With the Philadelphia Eagles, there is no unhappiness in the running back room, at least from the team's two new backs, D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny.
They are both getting a good number of reps in the early days of training camp.
Both, however, are on one-year contracts and could find themselves joining the group of running backs who are making their feelings known publicly.
For now, they are focused on helping the Eagles win.
“I think everybody deserves their worth,” said Penny. “The guys that are unhappy, I feel for them because I’m a running back. But at the end of the day, I only can control what I can control. All the running backs in that situation are all great running backs in their own right.
“I do wish it was better, but it’s nothing that we can control. We just gotta keep coming out and playing ball. That’s the way the game is right now.”
Penny has been getting a good number of reps in the early days of training camp in what is a crowded running back room.
Swift has stood out with his ability to catch the ball. He let his thoughts be known about the devaluation of players at his position.
“It's not a question for me,” said Swift. “I feel like we do a lot, and we’re asked to do a lot as well. I feel like you need to perform, but, we’re like the only position that gets kind of devalued what we do, and then it comes down to talk and everything like that.
“Like I said, it’s just my opinion, and it doesn’t really matter on that too much. I just focus on what I can control.”
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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