Texans 21 Jags 0 DD, 30 rushes for 150 yards and a touch down, 5 catches for 39 yards. Toe, 3 rushes for 13 yards, 2 catches for -5 yards. DD is now over the 1,000 yard mark again this year, appears to have quieted Houston's questions about its running game. DD is healthy and the team is adjusting to its new zone blocking scheme. Since Toe doesn't play as much I don't follow him as closely. Why doesn't he play more ? Are the guys ahead of him that much better ?
DD got a break when the Texans drafted him. The guy ahead of him was the backup for Jacksonville Jags at one time. This guy got hurt and DD made the most of his opportunity. Toefield on the other hand is stuck behind a proven RB, Fred Taylor. When healthy, Taylor is a fine RB. Toefield will get his shot one day.
Double-D is just that, a double threat, really a triple threat. He runs with speed and agility, can pound it in between the tackles as well as catch the ball out of the backfield. Toe is more of a downfield, grinder and will be a backup as long as Fred Taylor is there. Anyone know what happened with Rondell Mealy after the Packers cut him loose a few years back?
And if I'm Toefield, I'm not upset by playing behind Taylor while DD is starting in Houston. My reason is simple: NFL RB's don't last as long as other position players, so by staying rested on the sidelines, he's just prolonging his career in the NFL. Years down the road, unless DD is lucky to avoid the injury bug that ends up catching all RB's at somepoint, Toefield should be in a little bit better shape (aches and pains-wise)...
Any idea how each's playing time is impacting the $$$$$ they bring home ? Toe may prolong his career as a back up but he may not make the big $$$. Could be wrong but I believe DD is making more. Always glad to see a former Tiger do well.
For arguements sake, lets say DD makes $2 million per season. Stretch that over the course of the ave career of an NFL running back, which, last I remember, I read an article that stated it was a 6-year average. Say DD makes it 8 years, brining his career earnings to $16 million. Toefield, on the other hand, should be making around the same figure as DD given his draft position, but because he's a backup, and while I understand that DD will get increases in salary before Toefield because he's currently a starter, Toefield could very well only need 2-3 more seasons to catch up to DD's career total. But I guess it's all moot. Priest Holmes, when he was in Baltimore, wasn't making NEARLY what he makes now, and he shared the backfield job in Baltimore, so anything is possible.
