PHILADELPHIA — After six seasons sporting a New York Giants uniform, it took time for operating again Saquon Barkley to get used to placing on Eagles inexperienced.
However that weirdness has “undoubtedly light” over the previous couple of months, Barkley mentioned, as he is constructed relationships within the constructing and started settling into his new surroundings.
“It is like a recent begin. I really feel like a rookie once more,” Barkley mentioned following the Eagles’ OTA observe Wednesday. “Attending to know everyone in right here, studying the tradition, shopping for into the tradition and feeling prefer it’s house.”
He is discovered a lot of methods to interrupt the ice, from competing with franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts within the weight room to going out to eat together with his teammates to taking part in golf — a lot of golf.
Better of NFL Nation
• Jameson Williams on a mission• Tradition change in Washington• Packers’ Watson fixing well being problem• Playing cards reshape WR room with vets• Jets could let Sauce stick with prime WR
Barkley defined that his household continues to be within the technique of shifting from northern New Jersey and isn’t but within the space. That is given him loads of free time as soon as his day on the Eagles’ observe facility is completed, and he is spent an excellent chunk of it on the hyperlinks.
“I have been {golfing} with loads of guys, {golfing} with O-linemen,” Barkley mentioned, “however my golf buddies proper now I’d say are [quarterbacks] Will Grier and Kenny Pickett. Kenny is simply choosing it up. Shoutout to Kenny. He broke 100 for the primary time and he simply began like two, three months in the past in order that’s an enormous accomplishment. However these two … we’re form of golf fiends proper now.”
Barkley, although, has been making his largest impression at work.
“He is an unbelievable operating again. I watched him over time. I am glad he is on my workforce,” receiver A.J. Brown mentioned. “What I noticed [during offseason training], him pushing teammates within the weight room, that will get me excited as a result of actually … if I can get a man like that who’s going to come back to work each single day and dealing laborious, that is all that issues.”
Squatting is a expertise shared by Barkley and Hurts: Each gamers are in a position to carry 600-plus kilos. Barkley had enjoyable on the Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast not lengthy after signing his three-year, $37.75 million free company cope with Philly, saying he can transfer extra weight than Hurts and “it isn’t even shut.”
Whereas it wasn’t precisely a squat-off, Eagles social media posted a video of Barkley and Hurts going rep for rep as teammates appeared on. It is one of many methods QB1 and RB1 have sped up the bonding course of.
He seems to be so proud 🤣@JalenHurts | @saquon pic.twitter.com/j1CvdvsXbL
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) Might 6, 2024
“Even within the quick time of us having OTAs, you hear about the kind of particular person he’s, the kind of chief he’s within the room, the power he brings to a room and that is one thing that I admire already — simply us competing in sprints or competing on the squat rack and issues like that the place we’re difficult each other — these are the issues that set the thermostat for what the workforce is meant to comply with,” Hurts mentioned.
There isn’t any denying the extent of expertise on the offensive facet of the ball. Barkley mentioned what struck him probably the most was going into the huddle for the primary time throughout 7-on-7 drills at OTAs and seeing Brown, extensive receiver DeVonta Smith, tight finish Dallas Goedert and Hurts surrounding him.
“That is not a nasty group to be on the market with,” he mentioned with a smile, “and that is not even together with the offensive linemen.”
The supporting forged was not as stout in New York. Barkley largely served as the focus for the offense and amassed over 7,300 whole yards and 47 touchdowns over six seasons. He joins a high-powered group in Philadelphia that’s seeking to get again on observe after a late-season collapse in 2023.
“Saquon is a premier operating again, in the beginning. We’re actually enthusiastic about his skill to run the soccer,” mentioned new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
What to know for the 2024 NFL offseason
• 2024 NFL schedule: Predictions, takeaways• OTA, minicamp dates for all 32 groups• Put up-draft 2024 Energy Rankings: 1-32 ballot• Largest remaining gap on each roster (ESPN+)• One QB query for all 32 groups (ESPN+)• Draft: See all 257 picks | Choose evaluation
“We all know the points that make him nice. It is his skill to be an amazing move protector, to be a receiver out of the backfield. He does an outstanding job with these issues. Clearly, we have got to attempt to make the most of him as a lot as we are able to whereas understanding it is a lengthy season for operating backs. We have nice guys behind him in [running back] Kenny [Gainwell] and [running back] Will [Shipley] and all the blokes again there that we’re enthusiastic about. We’re lucky to have Saquon.”
Barkley mentioned he is not going to draw back from assuming a management position on the workforce regardless that he is new. As Brown famous, “a man with expertise like that, his character … that is a man you need to comply with.”
His stage of expertise also needs to lend to such a job. Barkley believes that is the primary time in his profession the place he is the elder statesman within the operating again room, making him the outdated man and the brand new man abruptly.
“That is undoubtedly humorous to me. There is a magnificence in it too,” he mentioned. “You see how briskly your time goes in [the league]. And if you’re having enjoyable with it, the time flies by.”
