Nick Chubb on the diminishing contracts of NFL running backs: ‘Next year it could be me’
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WVA
Takeaways from Browns training camp Day 2 …
Two years ago Nick Chubb signed a three-year contract extension for $36 million. No other running back has received an extension for a double-digit million average salary since. Chubb is grateful, but concerned about the rapid devaluation of his position.
That’s why he joined a Zoom call with all the top NFL backs organized by Austin Ekelar of the Chargers on Saturday night.
“Right now, it just taught [me] there’s really nothing we can do,” Chubb said after the Browns’ practice at The Greenbrier Resort. “We're kind of handcuffed with the situation, but what I took from it … [Christian] McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, Saquon [Barkley] all had a lot of good points.
“The biggest thing is that we're the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they're going to say you're probably worn down. That's the biggest thing that I took from. It's tough. It hurts us just to go out there and do good. It hurts us at the end of the day.”
Nick Chubb is troubled by the trend of teams underpaying NFL running backs. (TheLandOnDemand).
Chubb’s contract runs through 2024, when it peaks at a salary of $11.775 million with a salary cap figure of $16.2 million. None of it is guaranteed and It would cost the Browns only $4 million in "dead" cap room to make a move on Chubb. He currently ranks fourth in average salary at his position behind McCaffrey of the 49ers, Alvin Kamara of the Saints, and Henry of the Titans.
In perhaps the most candid interview of his six years with the Browns, Chubb admitted the NFL trend of playing running backs hard during their first contract and then underpaying them after that has him pondering his future.
“Next year it could be me in the same situation,” he said.
“I can't say I haven't, but I'm so focused and locked in. I'm there with those guys, too. I understand situation. I know it can be me one day and yeah, I'm just kind of playing both sides. I'm here for my team, but I'm also understanding the situation that I could be in.”
Chubb said there has been no talk of a contract extension that would rewrite his last season and add years.
“I'm here, I'm all in. I'm ready to work my guys. I’m focused on playing right now,” he said.
Chubb turns 28 on December 27. For what it’s worth, he has plenty of support from teammates, coaches and even the GM.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said, “We got the best in the business, in my opinion, and I know that conversation and I know it's complicated, but for us, we're thrilled with the guys we have."
Quarterback Deshaun Watson said, “Chubb, he's a big part of this offense and we know that. So, we're going to continue to feature him and do what he's great at. Chubb, he's going to embrace his role and be able to do everything -- catch passes, run the ball, and do things that he probably hasn't done before.”
GM Andrew Berry kind of bucked the trend when he gave Chubb a $36 million extension in 2021.
“The rarest thing you can find is a difference-maker, regardless of position,” Berry said. “There are players that break the mold. For us, we had a superstar at the position who embodied everything we wanted in the organization. Don’t overthink it. It’s Nick Chubb, right? For us, it was a pretty straightforward decision because those difference-makers are hard to find.”
So does Chubb have anything to worry about after this year?
Berry chuckled and answered, “Nick Chubb is the type of player and person that you hope is with the organization as long as possible.”
Watson’s 4-H talk
In another example of Deshaun Watson taking ownership of his position as the team leader, he was selected by Stefanski among a handful of players and one coach to stand in front of the team on Saturday to begin Stefanski’s 4-H exercise. In it, the person digs deep to reveal his History, Heartbreaks, Heroes and Hopes.
Watson said he went much deeper in his story than the allegations of sexual assault that resulted in an 11-game NFL suspension last season.
“A lot of people knew of me. A lot of people, especially last year, heard different things,” Watson said. “A lot of people watched me through college. We have a young team, so they kind of knew me.
“They didn't know my history, the history from where I grew up, Gainesville, Georgia, A-15 Hashan Square, the Session apartment. That type of situation of when I was a young kid. I didn't think of the NFL. I didn't know I was going to make it out of high school. My mom being sick and having tongue cancer and not being able to eat solid food ever again. Not having a father figure in my life ever. Probably 27 years, only seeing him four times. Different stuff like that is just things that people don't really get to hear about.
“Especially last year has been the media directing and narrating something else has been kind of overshadowed. So having an opportunity to tell that story in front of those guys and lift those teammates in their eyes and be able touch them and let them know why I am who I am is definitely powerful."
Brownie bits
Rookie right tackle Dawand Jones was absent from the second practice of camp because of “illness.” Jones had a tough time at rookie minicamp and it’s not going to get any easier for him through the dog days of training camp. I asked Berry if he was concerned about the depth at offensive tackle. Third-year James Hudson and Jones are the next men up behind starters Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin. “We feel good about our offensive tackle depth,” he said …
At the same time, Berry professed no concern with the depth at defensive tackle (after the abrupt release of second-year Perrion Winfrey), or running back behind Chubb and second-year Jerome Ford. “One of the big things we do early in training camp is really address the roster,” Berry said. “We like the mix of players we have. We’ll see how it feels when we come to the middle of camp and then reassess the roster from there.” …
Berry credited receiver Marquise Goodwin with bringing his concerns about shortness of breath and discomfort in his legs to the team’s medical staff at the conclusion of minicamp. It was only then learned that Goodwin was stricken with blood clots in his lungs and legs. “It could have been very easy for him to go on break and travel with his family and it would be something unknown,” Berry said. “We’re just thankful that he said something and we were able to get him treatment to get back on track.” There’s no timetable for Goodwin’s return on the field. He is working out lightly with trainers on the side …
Receiver Amari Cooper left the field early in practice after tweaking a lower-leg muscle. As a precaution, the Browns kept him out for the duration. They said it had nothing to do with his core muscle surgery after the season and he’s day-to-day …
With Goodwin and Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) also on the sidelines, the beneficiaries in practice reps will be David Bell, Jakeem Grant and Jaelon Darden. Darden attended every one of Watson’s informal passing workouts throughout the offseason in Houston, Puerto Rico and other locations …
The Browns are about 10 days away from posting an unofficial depth chart. When the defensive line goes through it’s drills, the first line consists of Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott and Myles Garrett.
