Somebody is going to get a quality running back in Chris Polk
My least favorite transaction the Philadelphia Eagles made this offseason was signing DeMarco Murray to a huge, long-term contract. Obviously, Murray is a good playerhe did lead the NFL in rushing last seasonIm simply philosophically opposed to investing large sums of money into 27-year-old running backs, especially when they were ridden hard and have durability issues to begin with.
But now theres another (albeit, lesser) reason to take issue with the move. As a result of the Murray and Ryan Mathews additions, and with Darren Sproles already on the roster, Chris Polk apparently was none too pleased about his opportunities in Philadelphia, and who could blame him? So Polk didnt jump at the chance to sign his one-year tender as a restricted free agent, and the Eagles ultimately rescinded the offer on Friday, which means he can go wherever he wants.
Is losing Polk a big deal in the grand scheme of things? Probably not. He was never more than a third-string running back here, and the Eagles are loaded at the position. Clearly, he wasnt going to see much action in 2015, then he wouldve departed as an unrestricted free agent the following offseason anyway.
Yet its a shame Chip Kelly didnt recognize Polks value was greater than numbers or status suggest. At 25 years old and $1.542 million, he was a younger, cheaper alternative to the Murrays and Mathews and Sproles of the world, at an area where teams dont necessarily need three stars to achieve success. In fact, even the best ball-carriers are reliant to an extent on the offensive line to pave the way, which is why its questionable to allocate so much salary-cap space into the backfield in the first place.
Plus, Polk looked good. Granted, small sample size here, but he carried 57 times for 270 yardsa 4.7 averageand seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. The guy has a nose for the end zone, and a no-nonsense, north-south, look-for-contact running style that will serve him well in any offense. He even contributes on special teams.
Polk has some durability issues of his own, and its not like another club is going to install him as its workhorse back, but he can play. Hell just be doing it elsewhere, despite the fact the Eagles couldve had him by doing little more than handing him a contract to sign.
Its not as if Polk is some irreplaceable commodity, either. If the Eagles even carry four running backs on the 53-man roster, Matthew Tucker spent the past two seasons with the organization and could fill Polks spot on special teams and meager role in Phillys offense. It just doesnt make a whole lot of sense to let a talented player walk away when you own his rights.
Sure, Murray, Mathews and Sproles are established, superior backs, so the Eagles dont need Polk. Who even cares about some benchwarmer, right?
Polks departure isnt going to cost Philly a Super Bowl, it likely wont even cost the Eagles any wins. However, it seems unnecessary. Clearly, Kelly values running backs differently from the rest of the league, and well find out if his expensive fleet of Pro Bowl ball-carriers can push the Birds back to the playoffs soon enough. But somewhere in the NFL in 2015, another team could be experiencing just as much or more success with Polk on the roster, for far less money and commitment.
