Top running backs by salary last season.
Many players especially the skill positons have incentive clauses so it is impossible to know what a majority of running backs earn for an unplayed season such as 2009.
2008 RB
Player Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value
Tomlinson, LaDainian Chargers $ 5,750,000 $ 12,400,000 $ 720 $ 5,750,720 $ 7,817,386
James, Edgerrin Cardinals $ 5,000,000 $ 7,000,000 $ 250,840 $ 5,250,840 $ 6,750,840
Lewis, Jamal Browns $ 1,400,000 $ 0 $ 5,100,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 6,500,000
Brown, Ronnie Dolphins $ 3,658,266 $ 0 $ 5,674,008 $ 9,332,274 $
6,106,800
Portis, Clinton Redskins $ 605,000 $ 9,325,500 $ 504,440 $ 10,434,940 $ 6,035,523 Johnson, Larry Chiefs $ 2,500,000 $ 12,500,000 $ 1,100,000 $ 3,600,000 $ 5,656,190
Jones, Thomas Jets $ 2,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 2,100,000 $ 4,100,000 $ 5,600,000
Bush, Reggie Saints $ 1,550,000 $ 4,000,000 $ 1,503,960 $ 7,053,960 $ 5,053,960
Taylor, Fred Jaguars $ 4,000,000 $ 0 $ 1,200,000 $ 5,200,000 $ 5,000,000
Gore, Frank 49ers $ 2,562,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 100,000 $ 2,662,000 $ 4,795,000
McAllister, Dulymus 'Deuce' Saints $ 2,000,000 $ 0 $ 3,043,385 $ 5,043,385 $ 4,551,926
Jackson, Steven Rams $ 605,000 $ 11,395,000 $ 0 $ 12,000,000 $ 3,049,166
Signing bonuses throw the order out of whack. Depending upon the wording of your bet such as base salary or total amount earned you can see which backs earned what in 2008. According to USA Today Steven Jackson earned $12M to Clinton Portis' $10,434,940 in 2008.
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/playersbyposition.aspx?pos=131
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