The Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Raiders’ Josh Jacobs haven’t signed their franchise tags and both are expected to skip the start of training camp after neither agreed to a long-term deal by Monday’s deadline.
Here’s a brief history of happenings after a running back skipped training camp for contract reasons:
Alvin Kamara, 2020, Saints
Kamara’s unexcused absence for four days late in training camp forced the Saints into a five-year, $75 million extension before the final year of his rookie deal. He responded with career highs of 1,668 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns.
Melvin Gordon, 2019, Chargers
Gordon’s holdout over the fifth-year rookie option lasted four games as the Chargers started 2-2. He went to free agency after a 612-yard rushing season, accepting a two-year, $16 million deal from the Broncos after previously turning down a four-year, $40 million extension.
Ezekiel Elliott, 2019, Cowboys
Elliott’s bold decision to hold out all of training camp after just three seasons — with two more years of team control — paid off with a six-year, $90 million extension. He made the Pro Bowl that season but declined each of the next three seasons as Tony Pollard emerged to share the workload.
Le’Veon Bell, 2018, Steelers
After playing on one franchise tag, Bell refused to do it again and sat out the whole season. He signed a four-year, $52.5 million free-agent contract from the Jets — a decision he regrets — and was never the same player, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry with nine total touchdowns over his final three seasons.
Maurice Jones-Drew, 2012, Jaguars
After leading the NFL in rushing in 2011, Jones-Drew’s 38-day holdout lasted through training camp as he tried to renegotiate with two years remaining. The Jaguars refused and Jones-Drew wound up playing just six games in an injury-shortened season before reaching free agency in 2014.
Chris Johnson, 2011, Titans
Johnson took his holdout into September because he was supposed to earn just $1.065 million after leading the NFL in rushing over a three-year period. He signed a six-year, $56 million contract and had three more 1,000-yard seasons before the heavy workloads caught up to him with the Jets and Cardinals.
Steven Jackson, 2008, Rams
Jackson’s 27-day holdout resulted in a six-year, $44 million contract but then he quickly missed four games in the first half of that season. He had some of his best seasons after signing that deal, however.
Larry Johnson, 2007, Chiefs
Johnson didn’t show up for camp after setting a NFL record with 416 carries in 2006. He landed a five-year, $43.2 million extension and immediately broke down, never reaching 200 carries, 900 rushing yards or 13 starts in a season again.
Emmitt Smith, 1993, Cowboys
Smith held out through the first two games as the Cowboys started 0-2. He relented on a request for quarterback-type money, the Cowboys responded by making him the highest-paid running back over Thurman Thomas, and Smith won NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP later that season.
