Former Eagles center Jason Kelce defended first-year Philadelphia star Saquon Barkley amid the star running back’s scintillating performance against his old team.
Barkley rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on only 17 carries as the Eagles beat the rival New York Giants, 28-3, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
But although Barkley said he didn’t expect to be booed in his return, the former Penn State star was continuously showered with jeers throughout Sunday’s game. What’s more, at least one fan appeared in an altered Giants replica jersey which read: ‘f*** Barkley.’
A phot of the jersey went viral, which is what prompted Kelce to speak out on X.
‘For the life of me, I don’t understand why Giants fans hate Saquon for what happened, and not the Giants organization for the fact he is an Eagle,’ Kelce wrote of Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal to leave New York for Philadelphia over the offseason.
Former Eagles center Jason Kelce (left) defended first-year Philadelphia star Saquon Barkley (right) amid the star running back’s scintillating performance against his old team
A phot of this doctored jersey went viral, which is what prompted Kelce to speak out on X
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Kelce was sure to put the blame squarely on general manager Joe Schoen as well as co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.
‘They have absolutely no one to blame other than the Giants ownership and management decisions for why he is no longer a Giant,’ Kelce continued. ‘Obviously understand their hate of the Eagles, and desire for him not to succeed, just very odd this energy is directed at him more so than the organization.’
Barkley hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on the second-overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Eagles pounced and made Barkley the highest-paid running back in franchise history, putting him on the short list of biggest free-agent signings with Nick Foles, Jevon Kearse, Jon Runyan and Troy Vincent.
Under general manager Howie Roseman, the Eagles generally have been loathe to use high draft picks or valuable salary cap space on a running back. But he seemed to hint in February at the NFL scouting combine that he could change his mind.
‘Talented players end up getting paid,’ he said of the running back market.
Kelce was sure to put the blame squarely on general manager Joe Schoen and ownership
The Giants used the franchise tag last season on Barkley and eventually worked out a one-year, $10.1 million contract before the start of training camp in 2023. A franchise tag this year would have cost the team $12.2 million if Barkley accepted the offer.
Barkley, 27, played in 14 games last season, missing three because of a high ankle sprain. He ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns and had 41 catches, including four TDs.
Since joining the Giants, Barkley has run for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. The Penn State product also has 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs.
Barkley missed most of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL in the second week of the season. He struggled in 2021 but regained his form the following year, rushing for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns in helping the Giants get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Barkley has played in two postseason games, both in 2022.
