Prescott went on a tear when Amari Cooper

The looming holdout for Chargers running back Melvin Gordon and the potential holdout for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has dusted off the debate regarding whether the NFL properly values the running back position. It does Emmitt Smith Jersey White , but only for truly special running backs.That’s the line of demarcation. Every year, the NFL has a handful of special running backs. And it’s always subject to change; last year, Rams running back Todd Gurley was special. This year, the jury on Gurley is out, at best.So who are the special running backs entering 2019? I see three: Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey. Others could become special throughout 2019, like Joe Mixon, James Conner, and/or Dalvin Cook (to name only a few). Others who once were special could become special again, like Gurley Womens Ezekiel Elliott Jersey , Le'Veon Bell, and (once his suspension ends) Kareem Hunt.When it comes to special running backs getting paid, the problem continues to be that the most special performances typically happen under the lowball terms of a rookie contract. By the time the player is in position to get paid, it’s entirely possible that his best days already are behind him.For example, Chris Johnson had 1,228 rushing yards as a rookie with the Titans, 2,006 in his second year, and 1,364 in his third season. He held out in 2011 to get paid, and he got paid he did. But then Johnson had more rushing yards than the career low for his first three seasons only once Michael Gallup Jersey , with 1,243 yards in 2012.Other special running backs have improved after getting paid, like LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. Still, there’s a chance that by the time Elliott, Barkley, and McCaffrey get their financial rewards, they won’t do more than they’ve done before executing their second contracts.That’s why it’s important for special running backs to begin clamoring for new deals as soon as they become eligible: Elliott now, McCaffrey after 2019, and Barkley after 2020. And it’s equally important for non-special running backs to think carefully about whether to take a stand in order to get their own contracts, because they are much more easily replaced than special running backs.For example, before Gordon holds out Womens Leighton Vander Esch Jersey , he needs to assess his own skills relative to other available options, Gordon needs to consider the team he’s dealing with, and Gordon needs to ponder the end game.In Gordon’s case, Austin Ekeler would step in. How big is the gap between Gordon and Ekeler? That’s a question that Gordon’s camp needs to assess objectively, candidly, and if need be bluntly.Then there’s the fact that the Chargers don’t seem to be inclined to wobble. Their coach, Anthony Lynn, is a former running back and running backs coach. Lynn knows special running backs when he sees them, and if Lynn has no qualms about flipping the switch from Gordon to Ekeler, well, Lynn probably knows what he’s doing.Finally Michael Gallup Jersey White , what happens if Gordon holds out and demands a trade? Will another team offer something significant to the Chargers and also pay Gordon what he wants? Or will Gordon eventually cave, like Maurice Jones-Drew did in 2012?A holdout likely won’t end well for Gordon. As running backs go, a holdout will usually end well only for truly special running backs. And those teams that have special running backs usually know that they need to move before their hand is forced. Former Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna and Kellen Moore were both backups for Tony Romo. Times have now changed and both of them are now coaches in charge of helping Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense"For the better part of ten years, the fate of the Dallas Cowboys rested square on the shoulders of playmaking quarterback Tony Romo. But all that changed in 2016 when a couple fluke injuries forever changed the face of this franchise. Entering that season, the Cowboys depth chart at the quarterback position was as follows: (1) Tony Romo(2) Kellen Moore(3) Dak PrescottBut before the season begun, QB’s #1 and #2 had succumb to injury and the team turned the reins over to the rookie Prescott. Fast forward three years later and Romo is one of the top broadcasters on TV, Moore has flown up the coaching ranks to offensive coordinator, and Prescott has since started every single game for Cowboys. In that span, Dak has helped lead his team to two divisional titles and has more game-winning drives than anyone else in the league. Prescott is entering the final year of his rookie contract and it’s just a matter of time before he is compensated handsomely.The team is sold on Prescott for the future and are currently negotiating for an extension, but reports are the two sides aren’t close yet. With the idea of a rising star quarterback demanding a high price, this cat-and-mouse game could go on for a while. The Cowboys could choose to just stand pat and address this next offseason. That would make the 2019 season a very important one for Dak in terms of what type of money he will command from his second contract. While that would mean Prescott would have to wait for that big chunk of new money Dak Prescott Jersey , there are a couple factors working in his favor this upcoming season. And as fate would have it, those factors just so happened to have backed up Romo.The offense is now under the control of the super-smart 29-year-old Kellen Moore, who the organization is hoping helps fix the offense. Moore’s innovative ways stems back to his college days where his 50 wins is still an FBS-record. While his on-field talent didn’t translate into an NFL-starting caliber quarterback, his brilliance at running a complex Boise State offense didn’t go unnoticed. Moore had the intelligence to handle a high-demanding Bronco offense that was filled with many different formations and an extensive amount of plays.Moore has been a favorite of Cowboys players both as a teammate and as a coach. He’s always well prepared and has a strong understanding of how NFL offenses work. Prescott will tell you that Moore is one of these young genius phenoms in the game and that clearly must be what the front office believes too for them to trust the offense to such an inexperienced coach.The Cowboys have added a lot of new players to the roster that should aid Prescott tremendously. Prescott went on a tear when Amari Cooper arrived and the two of them will now have a full training camp to work together. Randall Cobb joins the receiving group, and he brings experienced route-running and big play ability to the offense. And the team just drafted the dynamic Tony Pollard. Our own RJ Ochoa provides a great analogy to how the brain trust view Pollard’s potential under Moore’s control.The Cowboys are hoping Moore is that skilled driver.But Moore isn’t the only Romo backup that should have a key role in the success of Prescott this season. From 2011-2012, Jon Kitna served as Romo’s backup and now he’s back in Dallas as their new quarterback’s coach. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesKitna now takes over Moore’s old job and brings with him much more experience. Our own David Howman talks about how the new quarterback coach could be one of the team’s most crucial hires this offseason.Not only will an improvement with footwork help Prescott make better throws, but Kitna’s influence should help Prescott trust in himself to cut loose a bit. Better accuracy combined with a stronger inclination to make throws down the field could be the secret ingredients in helping Prescott reach stardom. And if that just so happens to occur in a contract year, somebody’s going to be cashing some rather big checks real soon.The influence of Moore and Kitna could be just what the doctor ordered for Prescott and the Cowboys. And wouldn’t it be something if a couple of former Romo backups helped the team’s young quarterback reach the next level of success and become one of the highest paid players in the NFL.