Robinson is locked in with Atlanta by way of the 2030 season.
Tori McElhaney
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. There’s a joke that often makes its means across the quarterback room on the Atlanta Falcons’ apply facility.
“If you get in trouble,” Michael Penix Jr. mentioned, “just ‘Bij’ it.”
Meaning: Give the ball to Bijan Robinson. Hand it off to him. Check it right down to him. However you do it, simply put the ball in his arms. He’ll take it from there.
In the wake of Robinson’s contract extension changing into official, gamers and coaches alike regaled the media with tales and congratulations for the dynamic operating again.
“I feel like he’s the best running back in the league,” Penix mentioned.
Drake London, when requested what Robinson means to the crew and offense, had a one-word reply: “Everything.”
Jake Matthews added: “The thing that sticks out the most is his ability to cut and, while changing direction, still maintain speed and continue to press vertical. That’s really hard to do… and he makes it look easy.”
When the morning news of Robinson’s extension broke Tuesday, actor Matthew McConaughey wasted little time reaching out.
“I think (the news) hit at 7:56 a.m.,” Robinson recalled. “7:58 a.m., he texted me.”
Over the subsequent 24 hours, a few of faculty soccer’s finest operating backs contacted Robinson by way of social media. Their congratulations had been usually accompanied by gratitude thanking Robinson for serving to re-shape the operating again market, one they might quickly profit from themselves.
That meant loads to Robinson.
“To get the position back to what it used to be,” he mentioned, “that’s the whole goal of what I’m trying to do.”
Former coaches and present gamers reached out, too.
Jahmyr Gibbs and Robinson have been in near-constant communication over the previous week, with each getting into coaching camp in search of contract extensions.
“I hope he gets the most out of what he deserves,” Robinson mentioned of Gibbs, who has but to succeed in a cope with Detroit.
Arthur Smith, the Falcons’ former head coach and now Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, additionally reached out after Robinson signed.
“Just because you got this contract doesn’t mean you gotta start buying everything,” Smith quipped to Robinson. “Just be yourself.”
Current coaches provided reminders of their very own. Running backs coach Michael Pitre has constantly instructed Robinson “there’s more in the tank” and that, finally, “this contract don’t mean nothing” in comparison with the work nonetheless forward.
And Robinson has certainly returned to work.
During his Wednesday afternoon news convention, Robinson addressed his determination to sit down out of form whereas negotiations had been ongoing. Although he was on the apply area day-after-day through the first week of coaching camp, he didn’t take part in drills.
“I was itching, boy,” Robinson mentioned of this holding interval. “I was on that sideline like, bruh, I gotta get out there. … I am not the guy to sit. I want to be out there. I want to be with the team. I want to be with the guys. So, for me to have to watch not watching with an injury, just to watch to be a good teammate that was pretty tough.”
Robinson joked that he stored calling his agent all through the week. Not to ask how negotiations had been progressing, however moderately (considerably sheepishly) whether or not he might do “even a little something” at apply.
Through all of it, although, issues remained “very amicable” between Robinson, his representatives and the Falcons. Robinson mentioned the method was constructed on a basis of mutual respect.
“But I know that’s all a part of the plan of the business side of things,” Robinson mentioned. “And it all did work out.”
It actually did asRobinson signed the deal Wednesday morning that made him the highest-paid operating again in NFL historical past.
He’s not again at full velocity simply but. Head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned the Falcons will ramp Robinson again up all through the week, whereas Robinson added the plan is for him to progressively tackle extra reps with every apply.
After Wednesday’s apply, Robinson walked from the locker room to the crew assembly room for the Falcons’ post-practice regroup. His telephone by no means stopped buzzing. There had been numerous congratulatory texts all messages he deliberate to reply… later.
For now, it is enterprise as common for Robinson.
And that ought to proceed to place defenders on discover each time the Falcons resolve to “just ‘Bij’ it.”
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