WHITE-SULFUR SPRINGS, W.V. — Throughout his first five seasons, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb was reliable, productive, and sometimes overwhelming.
He may be the best running back in the NFL, but he was never talkative. In fact, Chubb doesn’t say much about anything. So when he took the podium after Sunday’s practice with the Browns and began ranting about Saquon Barkley’s contract status, the importance of the running back position in the NFL today, and even his own future, it was as rare as Chubb dropping out in a loss.
“We’re definitely in a tough spot as a running back as a whole,” Chubb said. “Saqwon is a great player and you can ask anyone in the Giants, not just league people, how much he means to the team. So it hurts to see him not get what he deserves.”
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On the first night of the Browns’ training camp trip to Greenbrier Resort, Chubb joined a Zoom call with some of the league’s other top running backs. A major topic of discussion was the reluctance of teams, not just the Giants, to make long-term financial commitments to running backs and to consider (albeit unlikely) solutions to help backs who have already spent more than four seasons in the NFL get paid on a par with top players at other positions. Players shared their opinions and complaints about the “myth” that Chubb called “running backs age faster or slower than players in other positions.”
“Well, it’s just hard right now. There’s really nothing we can do,” Chubb said. “We’re kind of handcuffed to this situation. The biggest thing is that our work is the only position that hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with a lot of carries, the next year they’ll probably say we’re exhausted.
“I feel like I had to be there[on that Zoom]… and I had to listen to everyone. And with young guys like[Jonathan Taylor]Nagy Harris, JK Dobbins coming up next, I feel it was important for me to be there.
Chubb is the first player to reach 5.0 or more yards per carry in five consecutive seasons with 100 or more rushes in each season, and in 2022 he hit a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and tied career highs with 12 touchdown runs. He did it with a career-high 302 carries.
Despite the Browns having Deshawn Watson fully qualified and entrenched at quarterback and ready to carve out the situation offensively, Chubb is poised for another big season. Chubb said he feels as valuable to the Browns as ever, and Browns head coach and playcaller Kevin Stefanski said he still sees the running back position as important.
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“For us it is,” Stefanski said. “So, in my opinion,[at Chubb]we have the best in the industry.
Chubb, who turned 28 in December and has a career rush of 1,210, is under contract through 2024. But with most of the contract guarantees he signed ahead of the 2021 season expiring this year, the Browns still owe their entire offensive roster hefty financial commitments beyond 2024.
At this point, Chubb has aged well. Almost exactly as he did the team-friendly deal he signed two years ago, which included his $12 million signing bonus and his $20 million guarantee. His average annual salary of $12.2 million ranks him fourth among running backs, with a 2023 salary cap of $14.85 million. Things could get tougher in 2024 when Chubb’s cap number is around $16 million, but without Chubb on the roster, the Browns will only have $4 million in dead money.
No one thinks Chubb is going to have a below-average year, and no one wants the Browns to break out as one of the best players at any position in the team’s new era. But even with Watson’s current 2024 cap number of $63 million, which will inevitably be remade into more manageable numbers, the Browns still have four offensive linemen with 2024 cap numbers at least $12 million or less. David Nyok has $18.3 million and Amari Cooper has $23.7 million. That’s why it was more than fair to ask general manager Andrew Berry on Sunday about Chubb’s long-term standing with the team, and someone did.
“Nick Chubb is the type of player and person you want to be in this organization for as long as possible,” Berry said.
Of course, it’s not a definite answer. And there’s no way Berry can predict anything ahead of an important season for the Browns. But Berry’s lengthy answers about the value of the position and how the general manager with roster authority sees the value of budgets and contracts made clear how the Browns view Chubb and understand his value.
“If you look at our sport, let’s call it the 1980s and ’90s, I think that’s a change from a time when a lot of offenses were probably built around bell cow runners,” Berry said. “I think the central player in our sport now is definitely the quarterback. As a result, the market has determined that the quarterback position plus the positions involved in the passing game have changed their values due to their impact on winning.”
“As time goes on, as the game changes, you’ll find that the game evolves too. With that said, it’s the rarest thing you can find someone who makes a difference, regardless of organizational philosophy, regardless of title. There are off-the-ball linebackers who are making dollars, and for us, when we made the decision to run back[in 2021]we didn’t think too much about it because we felt we had a superstar in that position who represented everything we wanted in the organization, Nick Chubb, right?
“It was a very easy decision for us because it’s hard to find someone who makes that kind of difference.”
For those who have watched Chubb speak and deny much in first (or second) contact for years, it should come as no surprise that his answers about his future included focusing on upcoming seasons and helping Cleveland return to the playoffs. He said there are currently no discussions between his agent and the Browns about a potential extension.
Anyone who knows Chubb knows he’s for real when he’s standing up for running backs everywhere, but still hints that his focus is on surpassing the Bengals rather than surpassing father time.
“With one year left on[the contract]it’s easy to say it’s not a big deal,” Chubb said. “But next year I might be in the same situation. Right now, I have another year, I’m here, I’m working hard, I’m ready to work with my mates.”
Video released of Chubb squatting at an absurd weight in high school just before the Browns report to camp appeared on social media. Chubb didn’t reveal the weight on the bar in the video, but said it was his personal best. Videos of this sort have become something of a summer staple, a readiness message from Chubb, who played in all 17 games last season and missed just seven of his career.
“I think Nick has shown that he is durable for us,” said Berry. “Look, you all know on social media how meticulously he takes care of his body, he is a consummate professional.
“I always tell Nick I’ll text ‘Nick’ every time thatcomes out.” ” He is a natural freak. “
Training Camp Notes: The Browns conducted walkthroughs and coaching practices at the Greenbrier for the first two days. Once the competitive practice session begins, share your observations and insights on the practice range.
(Photo: Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
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