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Saquon Barkley, the star running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, addressed his team’s decision to rest him for the final game of the season, which caused him to miss out on the chance to break the NFL's single-season rushing record. The news comes as a disappointment to Barkley, who had hoped to set a new milestone against his former team, the New York Giants.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Barkley expressed feeling bad about the decision. He had initially spoken with Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni after their win over the Dallas Cowboys, where the topic of breaking the rushing record came up. Initially, Barkley was indifferent to the idea, but after further consideration, he became more determined to chase the record.
"I probably didn’t care too much for it on Sunday," Barkley admitted. "But after I slept on it, I realized it was an opportunity to make my mark in football history. I may never get another chance like that again."
Barkley Reflects on Family Support and His Priorities
Barkley also shared that his family was very invested in his chance to break the record, perhaps even more so than he was. "I told my family, and they probably wanted it a little bit more than me," he said. His father, in particular, took the news the hardest, revealing the emotional toll the situation had on those close to him.
Despite this disappointment, Barkley accepted the decision to rest and emphasized that his main focus remains on the team’s overall success. "At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning football games and advancing in the playoffs. I have a bigger goal in mind," he stated.
Chasing the Record: Close, but Not Quite There
Barkley entered the final game of the season with 2,005 rushing yards, just 100 yards shy of breaking the single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. Dickerson, who achieved the feat with the Los Angeles Rams, had 12 games surpassing 100 yards rushing. He set the record with 379 carries that season, while Barkley reached 345 carries, despite playing fewer games than Dickerson that year.
Even with this close call, Barkley remains focused on the bigger picture. His performance this season has already cemented his place as one of the top running backs in the NFL.
Looking Ahead: A Major Contract and Bigger Goals
Barkley’s deal with the Eagles includes a three-year contract worth $26 million guaranteed, with a total of $37.75 million overall. This makes him the highest-paid running back in franchise history, reinforcing his value to the team.
While Barkley may not have broken the record, his long-term goals remain intact, and he continues to focus on the postseason as the Eagles aim for success in the playoffs.
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