vin Gordon and the potential holdout for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has dusted off the debate regarding whether the NFL properly values the running back position. It does Youth J.J. Jansen Jersey , but only for truly special running backs.That’s the line of demarcation. Every year, the NFL has a handful of special running backs. And it’s always subject to change; last year, Rams running back Todd Gurley was special. This year, the jury on Gurley is out, at best.So who are the special running backs entering 2019? I see three: Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey. Others could become special throughout 2019, like Joe Mixon, James Conner, and/or Dalvin Cook (to name only a few). Others who once were special could become special again, like Gurley, Le'Veon Bell, and (once his suspension ends) Kareem Hunt.When it comes to special running backs getting paid, the problem continues to be that the most special performances typically happen under the lowball terms of a rookie contract. By the time the player is in position to get paid, it’s entirely possible that his best days already are behind him.For example, Chris Johnson had 1,228 rushing yards as a rookie with the Titans, 2,006 in his second year Stitched J.J. Jansen Jersey , and 1,364 in his third season. He held out in 2011 to get paid, and he got paid he did. But then Johnson had more rushing yards than the career low for his first three seasons only once, with 1,243 yards in 2012.Other special running backs have improved after getting paid, like LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. Still, there’s a chance that by the time Elliott, Barkley, and McCaffrey get their financial rewards, they won’t do more than they’ve done before executing their second contracts.That’s why it’s important for special running backs to begin clamoring for new deals as soon as they become eligible: Elliott now, McCaffrey after 2019, and Barkley after 2020. And it’s equally important for non-special running backs to think carefully about whether to take a stand in order to get their own contracts, because they are much more easily replaced than special running backs.For example, before Gordon holds out, he needs to assess his own skills relative to other available options, Gordon needs to consider the team he’s dealing with, and Gordon needs to ponder the end game.In Gordon’s case, Austin Ekeler would step in. How big is the gap between Gordon and Ekeler? That’s a question that Gordon’s camp needs to assess objectively, candidly Youth Mario Addison Jersey , and if need be bluntly.Then there’s the fact that the Chargers don’t seem to be inclined to wobble. Their coach, Anthony Lynn, is a former running back and running backs coach. Lynn knows special running backs when he sees them, and if Lynn has no qualms about flipping the switch from Gordon to Ekeler, well, Lynn probably knows what he’s doing.Finally, what happens if Gordon holds out and demands a trade? Will another team offer something significant to the Chargers and also pay Gordon what he wants? Or will Gordon eventually cave, like Maurice Jones-Drew did in 2012?A holdout likely won’t end well for Gordon. As running backs go, a holdout will usually end well only for truly special running backs. And those teams that have special running backs usually know that they need to move before their hand is forced. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)The Carolina Panthers find themselves on the brink of clinching a playoff spot despite a season filled with off-field distractions. The Panthers (10-4) can reach the postseason for the fourth time in the last five seasons under coach Ron Rivera with a win Sunday against the slumping Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10). The Panthers, who’ve won six of their past seven games, are tied with New Orleans atop the NFC South, but the Saints hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Panthers would need to win out and the Saints to lose one of their remaining two games to win the division. It is the type of consistency the Panthers have been striving for since coming into the league in 1995. Prior to 2014, the team had never been to the postseason in back-to-back seasons. ”What it talks about as far as the culture inside the locker room is we have a group of young men who want to win,” Rivera said. ”It’s been a group of young men who have given their all over the past five seasons and put a lot on the line. … I think it speaks very well for what we have established here.” The Panthers didn’t get to this point without overcoming their fair share of distractions. Carolina’s season has been a soap opera of epic proportions, beginning with owner Jerry Richardson’s surprising decision to fire general manager Dave Gettleman on the eve of training camp – and then replace him with former GM Marty Hurney. The Panthers later lost Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen for more than two months to a broken foot (he’s since returned) and traded No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo. Then came Cam Newton’s sexist comment to a female reporter, which drew harsh criticism for the league’s 2015 MVP and cost him a sponsorship deal. And in the coup de grace, Richardson stunningly announced Sunday he’s putting the team up for sale after the season following a bombshell report from Sports Illustrated detailing alleged sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace. Richardson remains under investigation by the league. ”I’ve heard an analogy in one of our meetings: The calmest part of a tornado is right in the middle of it,” Newton said. ”We’re trying to have a great attitude that’s contagious professionally that people can leech from and say Stitched Mario Addison Jersey , `Man, look how Cam’s preparing. Look how Julius (Peppers) is preparing. Look how Luke (Kuechly) is preparing – he’s not letting these things get to him.”’ Five things to know about the Bucs-Panthers game: NO THOMAS DAVIS: The Panthers held the Buccaneers to three points earlier this season in Tampa, in part because of the play of outside linebacker Thomas Davis. But the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year won’t be on the field Sunday because he’s been suspended one game by the NFL for an illegal hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams last week. Davis apologized for the hit, saying he meant no harm and Rivera said the hit wasn’t intentional. David Mayo will start for Davis, who won an appeal to get the suspension reduced from two games. The good news for the Panthers is their other starting outside linebacker Shaq Thompson is expected to return after missing two games with plantar fasciitis. BANGED-UP BUCS: The Panthers will be facing a banged-up Buccaneers team that placed five players on injured reserve, including two of their top rookies, safety Justin Evans and tight end O.J. Howard, after their Monday night loss to Atlanta. Evans is currently tied for third among rookies in interceptions (three), while tying for fourth in total tackles (66). Howard has six receiving touchdowns this season, tied for the NFL rookie lead and the fourth most by a Buccaneers rookie. ”We had a flurry of injuries this last game for whatever reason,” coach Dirk Koetter said. NEWTON ON THE RUN: Newton has been a huge factor running the football over the last seven games. Newton has run 65 times for 432 yards and two touchdowns during that span. The threat of him running has helped open other facets of the offense. Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith calls Newton ”arguably their best running back on the team.” ”They are running him more,” Smith said. ”He is their leading rusher in terms of average, so he is a guy that we’ve got to make sure we can get him on the ground and have guys that are going to be shadowing him on certain defensive calls.” THE REAL McCOY: Gerald McCoy and the Bucs may be out of playoff contention, but the 2017 Pro Bowl defensive tackle said there is still something to play for. ”We can let this division know that we are still here,” McCoy said. ”I think we get overlooked a lot, which that’s what comes with not winning. But we are still here and we can still make an impact on this division. Carolina is on fire right now. We’re going to have to bring it because they are at home, and when they are at home, it’s a hard place to win at.” CORNERBACK TANDEM: Panthers starting cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley went 12 weeks without an interception. Now they each have a pick in the last two games as takeaways are suddenly coming in bunches for Carolina. — AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall contributed to this report. —
