Arian Foster – Show Him The Money…Duh

(Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

I’m always intrigued by the way NFL stars handle soon to be expiring contracts.

Very often, they’ll hold out until a new deal is secured. I have no problem with that. If you’re a game-changer, why play for scraps when your next misstep could deal you a torn ligament and a pink slip?

But that ain’t Texan running back Arian Foster, who will become a restricted free agent this off-season.

Despite coming off a career season in 2010, Foster did not hold out for a long term deal. He signed his exclusive rights tender for one season and $525,000. And he rarely discussed his impending free-agency this season, perhaps believing his play alone would earn him a new deal.

Foster still feels the same way. “All that stuff will work itself out,” he said earlier this week.

But all too often with running backs, things don’t work out. The shelf life of an NFL running back isn’t very long these days. That’s why Foster MUST be rewarded for a fantastic season that he played through for pennies.

If a player of Arian’s caliber doesn’t get paid, what does that say to the rest of the team?

It certainly can’t inspire a lot of loyalty.

Yet Arian seems to be focused on anything but his contract. “I’m going to be a much better football player next year,” he says. “I’m going to be faster, stronger, quicker.”

The Texans must make it a priority to ensure that next year is in Houston.