There are legitimate concerns about giving running backs long-term contracts, considering the short shelf-life and fungible nature of the position.
But if the Texans have any concerns about paying Arian Foster, it’s not because they think it will change him.
“Money reveals you,” the 25-year-old back told Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. “I think it’ll bring out the philanthropist in me, the person I want to be who gives back. I’ll make sure my family’s future is secured. I’m not one to buy a car or chains and jewelry, not anything against those guys who do, to each his own.
“But that’s just not my style. I’m more about building a future and foundation for myself and bettering my community.”
He’ll have plenty of opportunity to do just that, since Houston gave him a five-year, $43.5 million deal with $21 million guaranteed in March. But his teammates see a daily grind in practice, and think he’s going to re-establish himself as the league’s top back after injuries slowed him last season.
“He’s gotten over that hump with ‘Was he a one-year wonder’ doing what he did last year battling through injury,” Texans linebacker Brian Cushing said. “I mean, he gets a full year, he’s going to be dangerous.
“I see him every day; he’s getting better. It’s always me and him competing against each other in pass protection and running the ball, and he’s tremendous.”
Plenty of teams have been burned for paying backs, but Foster’s still ascending, and should pay dividends for the Texans for years to come.