Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Barkley

Brandon Marshall says Giants should understand Saquon Barkley jabs are warranted: ‘This is the big leagues’

Toward the end of his 13-year career in the NFL, Brandon Marshall found himself in East Rutherford, New Jersey, playing for the New York Giants.

“I think it’s one of the dopest brands in all of sports. I love what they stand for,” Marshall, who played his 2017 season with the Giants, told Fox News Digital.

While the Giants are rooted in tradition and respect, winning has been hard to come by in recent seasons. Marshall knows about that, having gone 3-13 with the team one year after they reached the playoffs.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley leaves the field after the wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

But the 2024 season not only had a 3-14 finish, it saw an ex-franchise cornerstone piece light it up with a rival elsewhere.

And Saquon Barkley, starring now for the Philadelphia Eagles, is heading to Super Bowl LIX.

Owner John Mara was seen on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” telling general manager Joe Schoen that he would have trouble sleeping if Barkley ended up with the Eagles. Schoen believed Eagles general Howie Roseman was out on Barkley, but boy, did he turn out to be wrong.

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What transpired is arguably the greatest running back season of all time, and NFL fans have been ripping the Giants each week as Barkley seemed to outdo himself with every game that came up next on the schedule.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Giants and their fan base, but Marshall doesn’t want to hear any complaining from anyone on New York’s side.

“It’s what comes with it. This is the big leagues,” he said. “The Tisch [and Mara] family has been phenomenal to me. … I do think that they can embrace a little change and get with the times a little bit in some areas. But I’m a big fan of the Giants.

“With that being said, no, this is absolutely what comes with it. You had a generational talent in your building, and you knew it. It’s why you drafted him.”

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Jan. 26, 2025. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

Marshall flashed back to former general manager Dave Gettleman, who owned the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, saying that you choose a player that high who has an opportunity to reach the Hall of Fame.

Barkley showcased that ability in six seasons with the Giants, especially in 2022, when his efforts to set the tone in the backfield helped break the team’s playoff drought. But just one season with the Eagles shows what Barkley can do behind one of the best offensive lines in the sport.

That was on full display this past Sunday as Barkley rushed for three touchdowns in the 55-23 rout of the Washington Commanders to head to his first Super Bowl. It led Dallas Cowboys great Dez Bryant to join the trolls on social media, which ultimately led to current Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux getting into a heated argument with him.

GIANTS’ KAYVON THIBODEAUX, COWBOYS GREAT DEZ BRYANT GET INTO X BEEF AFTER SAQUON BARKLEY COMMENT

Thibodeaux might be defending his team, but it goes back to Marshall’s point: When you allow a generational talent to walk, expect the consequences.

“It’s unfortunate that they weren’t able to surround Saquon with the right offensive line, with the right coordinators, with the right receivers,” Marshall explained. “You insert [head coach] Brian Daboll, who I love to death, but it was way too late. Then, the whole market around the running back shifted. Now, you have Saquon Barkley and King [Derrick] Henry redefining how we should look at the running back position, how we should look at the run game. It’s extremely important.”

Barkley is on the cusp of history as he appears destined to break the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs, which Hall of Famer Terrell Davis currently owns with 2,476 yards. Barkley has 2,447 after his 118 yards on Sunday.

If the Eagles win the Super Bowl, like Davis’ Denver Broncos did in 1998, Barkley would cap a historic season, something the Giants hoped he could produce with them.

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Instead, they have to continue looking on from further north on I-95. And what’s worse? This is only the first year on Barkley’s three-year Eagles contract.

The only way for the Giants to change the narrative is to build the right roster to compete with Barkley and the Eagles. Until then, the shots taken by football fans will continue to fly.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 31, 2025
Saquon Barkley lives up to Eagles promise as they reach Super Bowl

Green and white confetti filled Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday night just as the Eagles had planned – they were going to Super Bowl LIX.

The Eagles are returning to the “Big Game,” aiming for revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are not only trying to make NFL history but beat Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII to begin this dynasty.

For some of these Eagles, though, it’s the first time they’re getting a chance at the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and superstar running back Saquon Barkley is one of them.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the NFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

When Barkley signed with the Eagles in free agency, after spending six seasons with the NFC East-rival New York Giants, he made a promise to get to the Super Bowl. Now that it’s actually happened, Barkley’s next goal is a simple one: Beat the Chiefs.

“That was one of the first conversations I had with [Eagles GM] Howie [Roseman],” Barkley said, via CBS Sports, after the 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders. “That was the conversation I had with my family. I came to Philly to be a part of games like this. Nothing better than a game when you can advance to the Super Bowl, so I’m super excited about that.”

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Barkley certainly did his part in helping his team get the ticket to New Orleans, scoring three touchdowns and rushing over 100 yards yet again in this career-best campaign he continues adding to.

Barkley is on the cusp of history himself, as he appears destined to break the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs, which Hall of Famer Terrell Davis currently owns with 2,476 yards. Barkley has 2,447 after his 118 yards on Sunday.

Running back Saquon Barkley helped the Philadelphia Eagles get the ticket to New Orleans, scoring three touchdowns and rushing over 100 yards Sunday. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

He got most of them on the Eagles’ first offensive snap of the game – a 60-yard rush where he broke multiple Commanders tackle attempts to find the end zone for the 7-3 lead. That marked his third touchdown of 60 yards or more this postseason – the most in NFL history.

Individual history is great to have, as Barkley has mentioned wanting to be in the same conversation as Davis, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson and many other running back elites the moment the Giants took him second overall out of Penn State.

But Barkley’s team-first approach has always shined bright, and winning it all means everything.

“I’ve always known who I am,” he said. “I’ve always known the type of player I’ve become. Sometimes it takes longer than others. I didn’t envision it taking seven years. I didn’t even envision it being in Philly. I thought it’d be in New York.

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“But no time is better than God’s time.”

If the Eagles are to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Barkley’s performance will be a critical one, as it has all season long.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Eagles star Saquon Barkley has heartwarming reaction to rookie teammate’s first career TD in NFC Championship

Saquon Barkley found the end zone three times for his Philadelphia Eagles, as they walloped the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship to cement their spot in Super Bowl LIX.

But it was the last touchdown scored for Philadelphia that had Barkley jumping and screaming for joy, and there’s a big reason why.

Will Shipley, the rookie out of Clemson, is the third string running back for the Eagles. With Barkley getting the lion’s share, and veteran Kenneth Gainwell spelling him for snaps throughout the season, Shipley has mainly played special teams while getting some time in blowouts.

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Eagles running back Will Shipley reacts during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Well, a blowout win is what occurred at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, and Shipley was given that moment where he could pad the stats a bit. But what transpired was a career first for the young running back, as he scored his first-ever NFL touchdown.

And cameras on the FOX broadcast caught Barkley’s reaction, which was simply heartwarming.

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He went ballistic on the sideline, jumping up and down and screaming as Shipley celebrated on the field. And what was even more impressive than the two-yard score was Shipley’s 57-yard dash down the field that put the Eagles in the red zone once again.

Shipley had just 82 yards on 30 attempts during the regular season, picking up two first downs in the process. He played 58% of special teams snaps and only 6% on offense.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley during the Los Angeles Rams game on Nov. 24, 2024, at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Barkley’s reaction, though, shows just how much of a team player he is, as he was hyped for his running backs room partner to get his time to shine on the playoff stage.

This isn’t anything new for Barkley in his first year with the Eagles either, as he famously told head coach Nick Sirianni to allow the backups to get their time on the field against his former New York Giants despite being just 13 rushing yards away from a career-high.

“It’s all good,” he told Sirianni. “I’m good. I promise. I’d rather see the young boys eat.”

Barkley would later smash that record anyway, ripping off a whopping 255 yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 24, 2024, which was the ninth-highest rushing yardage in a single game in NFL history.

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Everybody ate for the Eagles in this divisional demolition, and even though he wasn’t on the field, Barkley was loving every second of his teammates putting in work to cap a conference title that sends them to the “Big Game” in the “Big Easy.”

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
NFL world mocks Giants after Saquon Barkley dominates in NFC Championship

Saquon Barkley put up more ridiculous numbers in the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC Championship victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, leading to jabs at the New York Giants.

Barkley finished with 118 rushing yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. Both scores came in the first quarter – one was a 60-yard scamper that got Eagles fans buzzing early.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, #26, celebrates after scoring against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

As the Eagles celebrated getting to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, NFL fans mocked the Giants for letting Barkley go in the offseason.

New York chose to re-sign Daniel Jones to a four-year contract before the 2023 season and gave Barkley a one-year deal. Before the 2024 start, the Giants let Barkley walk to free agency, much to the chagrin of Giants fans. He decided to sign with one of their archrivals.

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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, #26, takes the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Tom Brady and the rest of the NFL world made sure to let the Giants know they made a huge mistake.

“Giant mistake letting him go,” Brady said during the FOX broadcast.

In Barkley’s first season with Philadelphia, he nearly ran for the most yards in a single season. He may have gotten the record, but he was held out of the Eagles’ last game of the season to rest for the playoffs. It turned out to be a crucial move as he has yet to let his foot off of the gas pedal in the postseason.

He has 442 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in three playoff games so far.

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The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux, Cowboys great Dez Bryant get into X beef after Saquon Barkley comment

A brilliant NFC Championship performance from Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on Sunday led one Dallas Cowboys great to troll the New York Giants for letting him go, a storyline that has been used all season.

But Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux didn’t appreciate Dez Bryant’s posts on X, leading to some public beef as they went back and forth.

Barkley scored three touchdowns on the ground in the Eagles’ 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

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Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant walks on the field before the game between the New York Giants and Cowboys, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Bryant fired off a tweet as Barkley was dicing up the Commanders, poking the Giants for letting the star running back walk away in free agency and eventually signing with the division rival Eagles.

“The Giants have got to be sick; I don’t care what anyone says,” Bryant posted, with a laughing emoji.

Thibodeaux saw the tweet come from Bryant hours after posting it, but he wasted no time jabbing at Bryant about his lack of championships in his own career.

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“We got the same amount of SB (Super Bowls),” Thibodeaux quote tweeted over Bryant’s initial post.

Bryant answered five minutes later and didn’t hold back his thoughts about the Giants.

“That’s a fact but I had a grat career and I’m in the record [book emoji]..sooooooo….I’m good with that!” Bryant said.

Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants (Michael Owens/Getty Images/File)

“You guys let go of the best player in the NFL this year and the GM son told him straight in his face to draft Jayden Daniels. You shouldn’t be addressing me you should be addressing your dumb ass GM…”

That was just the start of it for these two as Thibodeaux added, “I’m shooting on any old head mentioning the Giants from here on out.” But that led to more from Bryant.

“The only player over there who’s (sic) legit is Malik Nabers…Other than that, sorry to break it to you buddy, you guys are awful,” Bryant said. “Cut all of that political shit out! ..You better hope they don’t trade your ass the way you’re hyping…Pipe down buddy…I bet not see you looking for a trade or cut.”

Thibodeaux attempted to cool the tension, but Bryant continued.

Thibodeaux obliged, asking the former receiver, “Why haven’t you retired?” He also implied Bryant, 36, would answer the call from Giants GM Joe Schoen if he asked him to work out for a roster spot.

“I bet you show up,” Thibodeaux said.

“This how I know..you don’t know..,” Bryant responded. “One day we’ll rap in person! Im far off the spectrum! I’m here to put you guys on game…I hate you misinterpreted my tweet…I’m done going back and forth..I pray you have a successful career.”

One NFL fan eventually asked what the two were beefing about.

Dallas Cowboys former player Dez Bryant before a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports/File)

“Everybody think they can say something about a team I represent….not on my watch,” Thibodeaux responded with a laughing emoji. “Till I’m not longer a Giant ima (sic) stand in bidness (sic).”

Thibodeaux was the Giants’ fifth overall pick out of Oregon in the 2022 NFL Draft, and after posting 11.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in a breakout 2023 campaign, he regressed on the stat sheet with 5.5 sacks and 28 combined tackles compared to 50 the year prior. He also played just 12 games in 2024.

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Meanwhile, Bryant, the three-time Pro Bowler, played nine seasons in the NFL, eight of which came with the Cowboys, where he totaled 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns over 113 games. He played his final NFL season in 2020 with the Baltimore Ravens, playing in six games in which he had six catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley sends NFL fans into frenzy with incredible TD run to start NFC title game

The Philadelphia Eagles answered the Washington Commanders’ long drive to start the NFC Championship with a rather short one.

It only took 18 seconds. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pitched the ball back to running back Saquon Barkley and the superstar player did the rest.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the NFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Barkley found a hole, broke one tackle and spun around a Commanders defender to run for a 60-yard touchdown. Philadelphia went up 7-3 early in the first quarter.

Jayden Daniels led Washington on an 18-play, 54-yard drive to begin the game. The Commanders made two fourth-down conversions before Zane Gonzalez nailed a 34-yard field goal. On Washington’s next drive, the Eagles defense caused wide receiver Dyami Brown to fumble and Philadelphia recovered.

The Eagles and their fans were buzzing at Lincoln Financial Field. The NFL world was just as hyped on social media.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pitched the ball back to running back Saquon Barkley and the superstar player did the rest. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Barkley wasn’t done. He scored again later in the first quarter as the Eagles went up 14-3.

Barkley appeared to be building upon his incredible performance in the Eagles’ divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams. He had two long touchdown runs in the win to go along with his 205 rushing yards. Philadelphia won the game 28-22.

The former New York Giants running back has run for at least 100 yards in four straight games and nearing a fifth straight game. The streak dated back to Philadelphia’s three-point loss to Washington on Dec. 22.

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The winner of the NFC Championship will punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIX.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025
Charles Barkley places blame on politicians for ‘making us fight with each other’

Divisiveness is alive and well throughout the country, and NBA legend Charles Barkley has placed the blame on politicians for that.

Barkley’s “Inside the NBA” aired on Martin Luther King Day on Monday, when he, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith were discussing the importance of the day, which also coincided with President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“I wish that people were smarter, personally,” Barkley began. “I think these politicians – both parties – I think both parties suck. But I think they do a really good job of making us not like each other.”

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College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four championship game. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Barkley, a former CNN host, then gave his answer on what America has “become.”

“Racism exists, always has, always will, unfortunately. It’s a disaster. But what America has become is rich people against poor people. And I wish people would understand that politicians do a good job of making us fight with each other. But it’s really rich people against poor people,” Barkley said. “They try to make it about Black, white, immigration, homosexuality and all these different things, but what it is, is rich people making people not liking each other. And until we address that, we’re never gonna be successful.”

Charles Barkley celebrates after winning the Men’s Gold Medal Game against Yugoslavia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Aug. 3,1996. (Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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“These politicians have screwed up our world, making you pick a team,” Barkley added. “And that’s unfortunate because I’m not for anybody’s team. I’m for everybody’s team.”

Barkley has said he is “not a fan” of Trump and blamed the Democrats for losing because they were “stupid.”

“We still haven’t solved the immigration problem . . . never addressed inflation. Bringing all these stupid stars out to rally the vote, what was that? I love Beyoncé. That ain’t gonna make me vote a certain type of way . . . you guys lost because y’all stupid . . .” Barkley said on “The Steam Room” podcast with his “NBA on TNT” co-host Ernie Johnson shortly after the election.

Phoenix Suns former player Charles Barkley in attendance at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jan. 21, 2023. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

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“It’s all our faults for not having a game plan. We’re not having concerts and rallies. People want solutions, they want money in their pocket, they want the border secure.”

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January 24, 2025