Wille Parker Out? It May bea Blessing in Disguise

The good folks at Football Outsiders have written extensively, and convincingly, of the risks of overworking running backs. Specifically, their research has shown that 370 carries in a season represents a threshold beyond which bad things ~ usually physical in nature ~ happen to an NFL running backs.

So it was with some concern that we watched Willie Parker rush the football fifty-three times in the first two weeks of the season ~ a pace that would have resulted in 424 carries for the season. The inability of the offense to generate any momentum limited Mr. Parker's carries in week three; and while we never want players to suffer injuries (especially those wearing black & gold) we are relieved that the coaching staff is now being forced to employ other running backs.

Let's just hope that Rashard Mendenhall has figured out that whole fumbling thing.