Did the NFLPA Screw It’s Players Like Ezekiel Elliot With the Rookie Wage Scale? [Debate]

Updated: July 30, 2019

Ezekiel Elliot is currently holding out on the Cowboys and looking for a new contract this Summer. He has left the United States and went down to Cabo as he waits on that call that Jerry is willing to show him the money! But here is a thing… is Zeke’s contract situation a sign of bad negotiating by the NFLPA?

Here is the thing, the NFLPA advocated for a rookie wage scale because guys like Jamarcus Russell and Sam Bradford were getting paid NFL record salaries before playing a day. However, was that a bad move in the long run?

Some twitter users brought up the debate and I found it quite interesting:

Whenever I read about Ezekiel Elliott and his holdout, I harken back to his brothers of the previous generation screwing him by demanding a rookie wage scale. Players attacking other players never ends well.

— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) July 29, 2019

They don’t see it undermines them all. In a union you’re only as strong as your weakest link. Someone convinced them that immediate gratification and selling out rookies was smart because they weren’t rookies

— Jelani Roy (@Jlawhat) July 29, 2019

Sam Bradford was the catalyst for this. Cats were pissed at that rookie deal he got. They screwed rookies with these 4 year contracts with 5th year option. Cowboys can have him for 3 more years and run him in the dirt and not pay him a dime more. Then dump him. I'm with Zeke.

— Richard Turner (@pookiefontaine) July 29, 2019

These are all great points. Did the union hurt themselves by not letting Sam Bradford and them get straight to the bag? In theory if rookie wages go up all wages would go up so that’s a great point.

And then there’s this:

I truly think this is a RB specific issue. They are in their prime basically from 23-26 years old. Most don’t hit FA until 26. Most other positions each their prime later and have more longevity. RBs need their own union or CBA.

— Hot Sauce (@HotSauce9771204) July 29, 2019

Do running backs need their own union? It might be time for it.