PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley planned to visit Happy Valley this week and meet up with his former Penn State coach, James Franklin. Barkley now jokes that he may tease Franklin for getting the Philadelphia Eagles in trouble with the NFL before the new running back even signed a contract.
Franklin stated before Penn State’s pro day that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman talked to Barkley and encouraged him to consider the connection between the Eagles and Nittany Lions fan bases as a reason to depart from the rival New York Giants for Philadelphia.
That’s against NFL rules.
The NFL is investigating whether the Eagles broke tampering rules during the legal tampering period, a league representative stated Thursday. The Eagles have denied the allegations.
Barkley insists there's nothing questionable here.
The 27-year-old running back, who signed a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed, stated on Thursday that Franklin misunderstood the conversation. Barkley mentioned that all information during negotiations was communicated through his agent.
If the NFL starts looking into Penn State, Barkley wants to clarify any confusion when he meets with Franklin at the pro day on Friday.
“I guess we’ll have that conversation,” Barkley said, laughing.
Barkley and linebackers Bryce Huff and Zack Baun were introduced Thursday at the team’s complex, three free-agent additions that were part of a rapid roster overhaul in the wake of the Eagles’ late-season collapse. Safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson is back a year after the team let him walk away in free agency. Wide receiver DeVante Parker will receive a $4.69 million guarantee in his one-year deal, and the Eagles also signed offensive lineman Matt Hennessy.
Kicker Jake Elliott, two-time Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson and defensive end Brandon Graham all signed deals that will keep them with the Eagles.
Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired and left the Eagles with just four players remaining from the 2017 Super Bowl season.
So what do all the million-dollar paydays mean? Even with all the moves, the Eagles are $39.9 million under the salary cap, per Overthecap.com. The website did not yet include Huff’s deal, which is for $51 million over three years.
Barkley, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, was the centerpiece of all the big-contract action designed to win the Eagles another one.
He endeared himself to his new teammates when he said he would “ keep the main thing, the main thing” — a popular Jalen Hurts-ism — and was warmly greeted and welcomed to Philly by Graham outside the NovaCare complex.
Barkley’s first few days after leaving the Giants were a bit of a whirlwind — there was agreeing to a contract of the sort that Roseman was generally adverse to offering to running backs, the Franklin kerfuffle, and a social media feud with retired New York Giants great Tiki Barber.
Barber criticized Barkley for accepting the deal and said on New York sports radio station WFAN, “ you’re dead to me. ”
Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick of 2018 draft who spent the first six seasons of his career with the Giants, responded with a series of posts on social media. He aimed his comments at Barber, stating, “you been a hater since I got to New York … and all the ‘ Dead to me ’ talk don’t smile in my face when you see me.” He also added, “I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs.”
Barkley shyly confessed on Thursday that he allowed his feelings to control him.
He expressed, “I don’t think I handled it the right way on social media. I believe I could have said a proper goodbye.”
He became a free agent after the Giants chose not to place a franchise tag on him. The Eagles quickly took the opportunity and made Barkley the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
The Giants used the franchise tag on Barkley last season and eventually negotiated a one-year, $10.1 million contract before the start of training camp. A franchise tag this year would have cost the team $12.2 million if Barkley accepted the offer.
Barkley appeared in 14 games last season, missing three due to a high ankle sprain. He rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns and made 41 catches, including four TDs.
Barkley has rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns, and he has 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs in his six-year career.
He now aims to contribute to an Eagles team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago and started 10-1 last year before finishing 1-6 (including a playoff loss) hoping to become a championship contender again.
“I know everyone’s focused on last year, but being 11-6 and making it to the first round, and that’s a down year, that’s a great culture you want to be a part of, when you have that mindset where it’s like, ‘No, we need to do way more,’” Barkley said. “I know how special this place is and how special a player I believe that I can be, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
