Running quarterbacks are under siege, not just by NFL defenses, but by the media. There have been a number of articles this week questioning the sustainability of the league’s running quarterbacks, including one we wrote about Carolina’s Cam Newton.

As a group, Newton, San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick, Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Washington’s Robert Griffin III, have taken a step backward this season.

What makes them different, though, is their running ability. If that’s taken away, you can make a good argument that you’re taking away what makes them special.

It’s a debate that’s seen ebbs and flow for many years. Just two seasons ago, running quarterbacks were all the rage. Now, some of the shine has come off.

Here’s a sample of what others are saying about the NFL’s running signal callers:

“Newton, the No. 1 pick of the 2011 draft, gained more than 700 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons. Griffin produced 815 rushing yards in 2012 as a rookie who sometimes even ran the triple-option. Kaepernick gashed Green Bay for 181 rushing yards in a January 2013 playoff game, while Wilson has been Seattle’s second-leading rusher in all three of his seasons. They all provided great highlights, but now, that same mobility might be an impediment.” — ESPN.com

“Kaepernick hasn’t had a 40-yard rushing game since September. Griffin has gone bust, for now. Newton is gimpy and trying to stay in the pocket. The only quarterback making a good living outside the pocket in 2014 is Seattle’s Wilson, and at 5-11 and 208, that cannot go on forever.” — MMQB

“The ability to reflexively process the mountain of data from the huddle to the line of scrimmage is dependent upon quality coaching and the quarterback’s willingness to put in long, tedious offseason hours to become an expert on opponents’ personnel and tendencies, while armed with an intimate knowledge of his own teammate’s assignments on every play.” — NFL.com

And here are two more blurbs about Newton, including one from a piece that thoroughly argues that the Panthers’ struggles this season should not be pinned on him:

“Cam deserves better than Mike Shula at offensive coordinator, but I never thought we’d see this many poor games from Newton in a row.” — NFL.com

“Stretches during the season have existed when Newton has played very well, masking the flaws of the offense around him, but for the most part, he has struggled. Generally, Newton has been put in a situation that simply made it impossible for him to be efficient or productive.” — Bleacher Report

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