In one of the biggest and most surprising moves of the NFL offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed star running back Saquon Barkley away from the rival New York Giants.
The Eagles, a formidable force in recent years, are looking to rebound from a terribly disappointing end to last season, where they fell on their faces after a stellar 10-1 start.
The addition of Barkley is seen as a pivotal move to reignite their Super Bowl aspirations.
As Barkley gears up for his debut season in Philadelphia, he is approaching the challenge with an aggressive, all-in mentality.
Being around the block as many times as he has, Barkley knows that he has to check his ego at the door and understand that many more times than not, he won’t be the focal point of the Eagles’ offense.
“My biggest takeaway from the book was being okay with adapting to things and to attack and adapt,” Barkley shared in an interview with NJ.com. “Thatās how I want to focus on this whole camp. With everything I do, if I mess up or make a mistake, Iāll do it at full speed.
“I want to go out there, try to make plays, do it full speed, attack, and whatever happens, adapt and be ready. You have to trust your faith. Thereās no need to have fear when you have faith.ā
Understanding his versatile role in the Eagles’ dynamic offense, Barkley is prepared to contribute in any way necessary.
āThere might be some games where I have to watch DeVonta [Smith], A.J. [Brown], Dallas [Goedert], and Jalen [Hurts] throw the ball 40 times and throw for 400 yards, and I have to buckle up and pass protect as best I can,ā Barkley added.
āThere are also going to be some games where I might have to carry the ball 25 or 30 times. When your goal is to go out there and win and compete for a championship, and thatās actually what you want to do, it doesnāt matter how you get it done.
“I think we have those guys in this locker room who share that same mindset. When you all play at a high level, you want the accolades that come along with it, but the main thing is to win football games, and I think we have that mindset here.ā
Barkley is embracing the transition to a new team, despite having spent the entirety of his six-year career with a division rival.
His integration into the Eaglesā system appears smooth, thanks in part to building chemistry with his new teammates.
“That all comes with reps,” Barkley noted. “I think Iām getting a really good feel for those guys up front right now and I think weāre running the ball pretty well.
“There are always things you can improve, but that comes with reps and practicing with each other and trusting each other.
“I also talk with them and see what they like and what they donāt like while also seeing how we can play with the defense with the way that Stout [Jeff Stoutland], Kellen [Moore], and all those guys are scheming it up and putting us into positions to be successful.ā
Needless to say, it will be a very strange sight for NFL fans – especially for Giants fans – to see Barkley wearing green this season.
While Big Blue wasn’t expected to meet Barkley’s high asking price in free agency, the entire organization was hoping that he wouldn’t wind up in Philly … But sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.
What are your expectations for Barkley and the Eagles this season???