Roland Fryer
speaker
253 appearances
3 recordings
2 series
first heard Jan 2025
last heard 4 Feb
Roland Fryer’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 2 in all, peaking in Feb 2026 with 2.
Appearances
So the first thing I did was test a bunch of supply side theories. We went and collected all the data we could on passing yards, running yards over the years by team, et cetera. But also we needed to understand the characteristics of the players.
So we looked at combine statistics and all the data we could collect from there in terms of 40 speed, three cone drill speeds, which is a measure of explosiveness, bench press, all those kinds of things.
And what we found was that running backs, in terms of their abilities in the Combine, have not changed. So the supply going in has not changed. And importantly, because it is a team sport, the supply of the other people around them hasn't changed much. But what has changed is the expected value of a passing play relative to a running play.
The NFL and the teams want to maximize wins, maximize revenue. And the way you do that is that you score a lot of points. The way you score a lot of points is that you pass the ball more. Pretty simple.
So just give me your name and what you do.
So tell me, I want people to hear from you, like what it's like playing running back. I mean, what part of it is mental, physical, how much of it can be taught versus instincts?
Tell me, in your view, why is the running back market like it is today? I mean, do you feel like the current situation is unfair? Do you feel like it's fine? I hate it. It's unfair.
But on the other hand, I don't see any Super Bowl winners in the last 20 years with a mediocre quarterback, maybe Brad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Bucs. I see several with average running backs and really good quarterbacks. Is that a reason that the quarterback position is valued more?
Why do you think the running back market is so challenging today?
Learn how to throw. I mean, I don't know what you want me to say. When market demand changes, particularly in something as intricate as the NFL, then certain positions will be more or less valued. And going in, people will expect that. The other option would be to say, when you do get the ball... Run further? Exactly. Be more productive.
This duality has lived in me since I became an economist. But you didn't ask Juju, the kid from Daytona, to advise the players. But as an economist, again, this is all being driven by market forces.
You want to get married?
I don't know. I've had a series of knee injuries. You might be able to get me now.
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