LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray, Adrian Peterson Are Proof That NFL RBs ...

BLOCKBUSTER TRADE - LESEAN MCCOY TRADED TO THE BILLS!! | Thoughts and Analysis

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy reportedly has been traded for a Bills linebacker who missed all of last season with a knee injury. DeMarco Murray, the leagues leading rusher in 2014, was allowed to walk into free agency by the Cowboys, because they didnt want to sign him to a massive long-term deal. Adrian Peterson, the most-feared running back of this decade, probably wont be back with the Vikings in 2015.

All of the aforementioned are elite running backs. Murray gained 1,845 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns for Dallas last season and was a big reason the Cowboys made the playoffs for the first time in five years. They didnt feel forced to keep him. McCoy was the leagues leading rusher in 2013, and in the past two seasons, hes combined to gain nearly 3,000 yards. Not good enough for Philadelphia. Peterson, despite his suspension last season for violating the leagues personal policy, has gained more than 10,000 yards in his career. That doesnt mean Minnesota wants him to return.

And thus, the position in football that gave birth to the extraordinary Jim Brown, the mesmerizing Walter Payton, the incredible Barry Sanders and the enduring Emmitt Smith that of the once all-mighty running back continues its course of marginalization into todays pass-happy NFL. The position isnt irrelevant with the possible exception of fullback but its heading that way.

Actually, thats incorrect. The position isnt irrelevant. Its that high-priced running backs are. Better for NFL teams to find solid production for a couple years from a back who wont cost much money and then, when that back eventually wants more money, discard him and find another cheap producer.

Is Adrian Peterson, at nearly 30 years old, on the downside of his career?

It used to be that once a running back hit 30 years old, his days of domination were just about finished, but until that time, he still could be handsomely compensated by his team that theory has now been downshifted a couple of years to the age of 27. Thats where Peterson comes in to play. h**l turn 30 later this month, and after more than 2,200 career touches the fourth-most among all active players theres little doubt that the Adrian Peterson of today is not nearly as explosive as the Adrian Peterson from 2012.

Even though he played only one game last season and, thus, theoretically, would be well-rested, he probably wont return to Minnesota (though, interestingly, Peterson in the past has been linked to the Cowboys who, as you know, will have a gaping hole at running back next year).

But McCoy who will be traded to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso is only 26 years old. As is Murray. The problem with McCoy is that hes owed a base salary of $9.75 million for 2015. The problem with Murray is that hed probably like to be paid as well as McCoy.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshkatzowitz/2015/03/04/lesean-mccoy-demarco-murray-adrian-peterson-are-proof-that-nfl-rbs-more-marginalized-than-ever/