At some point, you would think disgraced NFL great OJ Simpson would want to stay away from any controversy he can. But, unfortunately, he never ceases to amaze the world with his lack of self-awareness. That was true once again this week when it came to comments the former running back made when criticizing The League and its owners.
OJ Simpson via Full Send Podcast YouTube
The accused-but-acquitted double murderer, who was found not guilty in 1995 in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, re-emerged on Twitter on Tuesday to give his take on how premier ball carriers are being financially compensated. OJ would say that he was “pissed off” at the Giants and Raiders for “showing disrespect” by not meeting the contract demands of star running backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs.
While it’s clear that the position has not only been de-emphasized in the ranks of pro football, it’s also become less of a financial liability. With even the most elite running backs breaking down after just a few seasons, the window to build around them is incredibly small. Because of that, and the emphasis on more open attacks like the spread offense, the need to have a traditional warhorse in the backfield has gotten less and less important. The meteoric rise and then quick decline of Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, who – despite a wealth of talent around him – never carried a Cowboys team within a whiff of the Super Bowl.
The trend has caused talented and top-notch athletes who line up where Simpson once did to now be drafted lower and considered an afterthought during the offseason. Quarterbacks, pass rushers, and offensive linemen all outweigh the average RB, and playmaking wide receivers will always find a home. But a 40-carry bruiser who eats the clock? He’s strictly horse-and-buggy- in today’s NFL.
Having said that? OJ Simpson probably isn’t the avenging angel you want on your side when it comes to the negotiatiing table. Or, the gates of Heaven, for that matter.
Despite being one of the most popular players of all time, a Heisman Trophy winner at USC, and an NFL Hall of Famer, Simpson remains a pariah. Once beloved for his television and movie appearances following his career, his public persona was shattered following the 1994 allegations that he murdered his ex-wife and her cohort. Deemed the ‘Trial of the Century’, it made OJ Simpson even more famous for all the wrong reasons, and he would later serve prison time on other charges. The 76-year-old was freed from federal prison in 2017.
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