Robert Smith

As fans, we simply see the outcome of the game, and we don't really understand that at the end of the day, these are corporations that are going to be responsive to their shareholders and consumers. And the NFL is no different. People like to see the ball in the air, the acrobatic catches and the leaps. The fans want to see long balls. They want to see passing.

I still can watch a 10 to 7 game, a defensive battle. The best player is the middle linebacker and the running back. And I'm happy with that. But for the younger generation, absolutely boring. We can talk supply and demand. We can talk the running quarterback and those all things. do have some influence in the devaluation for the running back position.

I still can watch a 10 to 7 game, a defensive battle. The best player is the middle linebacker and the running back. And I'm happy with that. But for the younger generation, absolutely boring. We can talk supply and demand. We can talk the running quarterback and those all things. do have some influence in the devaluation for the running back position.

I still can watch a 10 to 7 game, a defensive battle. The best player is the middle linebacker and the running back. And I'm happy with that. But for the younger generation, absolutely boring. We can talk supply and demand. We can talk the running quarterback and those all things. do have some influence in the devaluation for the running back position.

Ultimately, if we really dig down and look at root causes, it's really the corporation, the actual NFL, responding to their consumer base and what their consumer base wants to see.

Ultimately, if we really dig down and look at root causes, it's really the corporation, the actual NFL, responding to their consumer base and what their consumer base wants to see.

Ultimately, if we really dig down and look at root causes, it's really the corporation, the actual NFL, responding to their consumer base and what their consumer base wants to see.

You've seen a ton of rule changes, obviously, to make it a higher scoring game with more offense. The defenses have been handicapped. The pass interference rules. You can't hit the quarterback. Some of the rules are good for the safety of the players. But certainly the root of the reason it's to increase the scoring and the way you do that is through passing.

You've seen a ton of rule changes, obviously, to make it a higher scoring game with more offense. The defenses have been handicapped. The pass interference rules. You can't hit the quarterback. Some of the rules are good for the safety of the players. But certainly the root of the reason it's to increase the scoring and the way you do that is through passing.

You've seen a ton of rule changes, obviously, to make it a higher scoring game with more offense. The defenses have been handicapped. The pass interference rules. You can't hit the quarterback. Some of the rules are good for the safety of the players. But certainly the root of the reason it's to increase the scoring and the way you do that is through passing.

Make no mistake about it. The running back is the most violent position in the most violent sport on the planet. Running backs are getting hit on every play. In pass protection, they're getting hit. You've got a running back who's 5'10", 215 pounds, and he's blocking a 325-pound defensive lineman. The defensive players are getting bigger and faster every year.

Make no mistake about it. The running back is the most violent position in the most violent sport on the planet. Running backs are getting hit on every play. In pass protection, they're getting hit. You've got a running back who's 5'10", 215 pounds, and he's blocking a 325-pound defensive lineman. The defensive players are getting bigger and faster every year.

Make no mistake about it. The running back is the most violent position in the most violent sport on the planet. Running backs are getting hit on every play. In pass protection, they're getting hit. You've got a running back who's 5'10", 215 pounds, and he's blocking a 325-pound defensive lineman. The defensive players are getting bigger and faster every year.

That physicality for the running back is real. The likelihood of a running back getting through the season unscathed, no injuries, is slim to none. And so a lot of teams, because of that, they go with running backs by committee.

That physicality for the running back is real. The likelihood of a running back getting through the season unscathed, no injuries, is slim to none. And so a lot of teams, because of that, they go with running backs by committee.

That physicality for the running back is real. The likelihood of a running back getting through the season unscathed, no injuries, is slim to none. And so a lot of teams, because of that, they go with running backs by committee.

Well, as you guys have talked about in countless episodes on Freakonomics, you have to be very careful about trying to change one variable in a system without impacting the system in a way that you haven't anticipated. And ultimately, the market is going to decide where they value players the most and where that money is going to make the most sense for that team.

Well, as you guys have talked about in countless episodes on Freakonomics, you have to be very careful about trying to change one variable in a system without impacting the system in a way that you haven't anticipated. And ultimately, the market is going to decide where they value players the most and where that money is going to make the most sense for that team.

Well, as you guys have talked about in countless episodes on Freakonomics, you have to be very careful about trying to change one variable in a system without impacting the system in a way that you haven't anticipated. And ultimately, the market is going to decide where they value players the most and where that money is going to make the most sense for that team.

The last couple of years, you're seeing a little bit of resurgence in the running game. Everything is cyclical, right? If you keep those bell bottoms long enough, they'll come back. That, again, is the sports agent Jeffrey Whitney. You ask a running back what's the most important duty that they have, the vast majority will be like running the football. And it's not.