You've got to be kidding right?
The NFL is a BUSINESS. Pat Bowlen bought his franchise for $78 million in 1984 and today his franchise is worth approximately $1.1 BILLION according to Forbes business magazine.
Every other owner has seen similar massive increases in the value of their ownership interest.
And this immense increase in popularity has taken place while the NFL has sanctified the QB and liberalized the passing rules.
First they said Defenders can't touch the WR more than 5 yds. from the LOS.
Then they said they can't hit the "defenseless" WR.
Then when defenses responded by trying to put a big hit on the QB to deter him from taking advantage of the pass-interference and holding rules the league once again intervened by making it illegal to touch the QB in the pocket.
Can't hit him after he's released the ball or hit him in the head ever or throw him to the turf, or breath on him too heavily or even look at him in an intimidating manner!
Do you suppose all this was accidental? They pay their elite QBs $50+ million and have to draft them in the first round. The QB is the visible face of the franchise and a top QB is one of the most widely recognized sports figures in America. Their QB is their most valuable asset and they want him to last!
The very last thing any of these billionaires wants is some reserve LB earning the league minimum, breaking their $50 million investment. Collectively they have gotten together to preserve their financial stake in QBs.
They are protecting their investments and "balance" be damned. As long as people don't start tuning out the games they aren't going back to "3 yards and a cloud of dust."
That's BORING. A 60 yard pass play is EXCITING. Women especially like it and like the emphasis on the QB and increasing the fan base has largely meant increasing interest among women over the last 30 years.
So, the chances of a reversal in policy are LESS THAN ZERO for the foreseeable future.
And that means that RBs will decline in value rather than increase. They are becoming more and more interchangeable parts. The Broncos pioneered the way with their ZBS, inserting a new 1000 yard RB each season.
And any fan who's been around long enough to pine for the "old days" is, in NFL Owners's eyes, the equivalent of Abe Simpson!
"You kids get off my lawn!" (My motto these days as well!)