Phillip Lindsay Sounds Off on Giants RB Saquon Barkley's NFL Crusade

In recent days, the NFL has been abuzz with arguments over the relative value of the running back position. On the heels of elite backs like Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, and Josh Jacobs collectively failing to garner the type of long-term contracts their respective performances merit, it becomes clear how the NFL feels about the position.

It's clear how devalued the running back position has become in the modern NFL.

Former Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay has been forced to ply his trade in the XFL, but he knows from his NFL career how difficult it is for ball carriers to get their due respect and financial remuneration.

"It definitely makes you mad,” Lindsay said via 9NEWS' Mike Klis. “I’m going to hold most of my thoughts in just because you don’t want to say something that they’re going to try and use against you. Because I would love to get at least two more years out of this. My goal was 7 years. If I can get to that then I can’t ask for anything else."

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As outspoken as Lindsay has been about sticking up for his brothers in the running back fraternity, it's telling that the former Pro Bowler and two-time 1,000-yard rusher is still mindful of not burning his bridges with regard to a potential NFL comeback. But there's no doubt that 'The Colorado Kid' outplayed his contract in Denver, only to see the Broncos lowball him with a right-of-first-refusal restricted free-agent tender that was eventually rescinded.

"I appreciate that," Lindsay said via Klis. "I was thinking I was the only one that thought that."

While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would likely deny any notion of blackballing players for their opinions, the mere threat of that happening is still a risk, which puts it at the forefront of Lindsay's mind.

However, Barkley has been far more outspoken over the last 24 hours in his stand-off with the New York Giants, who franchise-tagged him after failing to agree to a long-term extension. Barkley claims he'll hold out of training camp and all Giants activities until the team comes to the table to make things right.

Lindsay appreciates how Barkley is making himself the NFL whipping boy in order to (hopefully) effectuate change for running backs the league over.

"But it is unfortunate what’s going on with us," Lindsay said via Klis. "They act like a running back is a dime a dozen. That’s a slap in my face for what I did as an undrafted player. You’re pretty much saying anybody can do what I did. Or anybody can do what Saquan is doing."

Barkley's threat to withhold his talents is the most powerful weapon at his disposal.

"My leverage is I could say, 'f--- you' to the Giants, I could say, 'f--- you to my teammates,'" Barkley said. "And be like, 'You want me to show you my worth? You want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won't show up. I won't play a down.' And that's a play I could use."

On the flip side, many fans will have far less sympathy for any select group of athletes that can earn $10.1 million in exchange for a single season's worth of their labor. Therein lies the bone of contention, and it's one which the league will doubtless continue to spin as it attempts to convince people that it remains fair and honorable in its organizational approach.

In the meantime, the running backs at the sharp end of the stick will likely continue to speak out in order to vehemently defend their right to maximize their earnings over what is a comparatively short career lifespan.

Through their dogged persistence, perhaps fans will see the NFL start to look at possibly reapproaching the running back contractual standards to accommodate a position that is being progressively disenfranchised. But don’t bet your house on it.

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