NFLPA exec's suggestion about injuries raises eyebrows amid downward trend in running backs market

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The state of the NFL running backs market has been widely debated in recent weeks. Multiple notable running backs have failed to land long-term, lucrative contracts this offseason.

Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs all remain under the franchise tag as training camp begins for most teams in just a few short days. Teams had until Monday to sign franchise-tagged players to long term contracts. Meanwhile, four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook remains a free agent, and veteran ball carrier Kareem Hunt is still searching for a new team. 

In the midst of the depressed market, NFL Players Association President JC Tretter decided to offer some interesting advice to the frustrated tail backs.

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NFLPA Logo during the NFLPA Press Conference on February 1, 2018, at the Mall of America, in Bloomington, MN. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

During a recent appearance on the "Ross Tucker Football Podcast," Tretter seemed to suggest that running backs should claim they were less than 100 percent healthy in an effort to increase their leverage with teams.

Tretter stopped short of flat out recommending players actually fake injuries — although he did not seem to completely rule out the scenario.

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"You need to try to create as much leverage as you possibly can," Tretter said. "And that’s the tough thing with the franchise tag, or being restricted in movement, is it decreases your leverage, but then you have to find creative ways to build leverage elsewhere.

"I think we’ve seen issues — now, I don’t