Saquon Barkley addressed the team's decision to rest him in the final game of the season, saying it cost him a chance to break the NFL's single-season rushing record.
The Philadelphia Eagles star told reporters Wednesday that he is “down” despite having a chance to break the league's rushing record against his former team, the New York Giants.
Barkley spoke with head coach Nick Sirianni about the decision after last Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys, and said that while he wasn't as enthusiastic about it at the time, he's become more passionate about breaking records since he laid them down. He said he started pouring it.
Now he doesn't get that opportunity and doesn't know if he'll ever get it again.
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November 14, 2024. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) passes a Washington Commanders defender on his way to a 39-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. . (Eric Hartline-Imagine Images)
“He asked me if I wanted to play if I wanted to, and I said on Sunday that I probably didn't care too much. When I went to bed on that, I was like, this is an opportunity to put my name in there. “I'm depressed because I may never get an opportunity like this again in the history of football, but at the end of the day, I don't mind putting the team at risk,” he said in footage obtained. Berkeley said. 94 WIP Sideline Reporter by Devan Kaney.
Barkley said he informed his family about the situation and that they wanted him to break the record even more than he did.
“Of course I told my family, and they probably wanted it a little more than I did,” Barclay said.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Barkley said his father took the news the hardest.
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November 14, 2024. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, 26, runs off the field after a win against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagine Images)
Still, Barkley accepted the decision and is now more focused on helping his team win the playoffs.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning football games and winning in the playoffs. I have bigger goals,” Barkley said.
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Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles watches before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on December 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Lev/Getty Images)
Barkley has 2,005 rushing yards this year, 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's record for most rushing yards in a season. Dickerson broke the record with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984, gaining 2,105 yards.
That year, Dickerson rushed for over 100 yards in 12 games, breaking O. J. Simpson's 1973 record of 2,003 yards. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, while Barkley has just 345 carries this season. but,
Barkley signed a three-year contract with the Eagles with $26 million guaranteed and a total of $37.75 million, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
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