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 “depressed” over head coach Nick Sirianni’s decision to keep him out of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Barkley spoke with Shirani about the decision after last Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, and said he wasn’t as enthusiastic about it at the time, but after sleeping on the record, he became more enthusiastic about breaking 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 would play if I wanted to, and I said on Sunday that I probably didn’t care too much. When I laid down on it, I thought this was an opportunity to put my name out there. I was like, “I’m depressed because I might never get an opportunity like this again in the history of football, but at the end of the day, I don’t mind putting my team at risk,” Barkley said.
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.
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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 in 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 in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams, gaining 2,105 yards.
In 1984, Dickerson had 12 100-yard rushes, breaking OJ Simpson’s 1973 record, which Buffalo had with 2,003 rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, while Barkley had 345 carries this season.
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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