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As the dust continues to settle on news that some of the NFL’s best running backs would be playing next season on a franchise tag, more and more players have weighed in on the current state of affairs for the position in the league. 

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry became the latest player to share his thoughts on the situation. 

Henry responded to a tweet from ESPN NFL Draft analyst and insider Matt Miller in which Miller seemed to trivialize the running back position and how teams should handle it. 


  Derrick Henry was just one of the NFL’s marquee running back to sound off on the lack of big deals for his cohorts. Getty Images Derrick Henry was just one of the NFL’s marquee running back to sound off on the lack of big deals for his cohorts. Getty Images

“At this point, just take the RB position out the game then,” Henry said in a quote tweet. “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.”

The changing mindset among NFL teams about the running back position and its value has led to a surprising summer where Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard will all have to play next season on their franchise tender. 

Barkley and Jacobs are not expected to report to training camp after failing to come to agreements with their respective teams on contract extensions before Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline. 


  Saquon Barkley was one of the NFL’s star running back to be stymied in an attempt to score a big payday. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Saquon Barkley was one of the NFL’s star running back to be stymied in an attempt to score a big payday. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Henry wasn’t the only player to voice his support for the trio, with Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler also jumping into the fray. 

McCaffrey called it “criminal” in a tweet that the three weren’t able to work out long-term deals.

And Ekeler didn’t take too kindly to Miller’s tweet either. 


  Josh Jacobs was unable to come to an agreement with the Raiders. Getty Images Josh Jacobs was unable to come to an agreement with the Raiders. Getty Images

“This is the kind of trash that has artificially devalued one of the most important positions in the game,” Ekler wrote. “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.”

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