The summer of 2023 saw many running backs holding out on their new contract to demand a raise, and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay thinks it is inappropriate.

Irsay argued that players should have accepted what's agreed upon in the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"NFL Running Back situation - We have negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides," he tweeted.

"To say now that a specific (p)layer category wants another negotiation after the fact, is inappropriate. Some (a)gents are selling 'bad faith.'"

His comments came after his team's main running back, Jonathan Taylor, demanded a new deal. Taylor was put on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of his actions.

Over at New York Giants, Saquon Barkley skipped the training camp after failing to get a long-term deal. Other RBs who rattled the league last week by expressing their frustrations over RBs' treatment are Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans.

Expert's view of RB situation in the NFL

Running backs take the most hit in the game but earn less than the other positions.

Agent Peter Schaffer suggested a change in the way running backs' contracts are carried out. He said the league should start putting tags for RBs, currently worth $10 million, in the same category as tight ends ($11 million) and receivers ($19 million).

"If they made that tag $16 million or $17 million, people wouldn't be tagging them and we'd find out what the market is," Schaffer said.