He is aware of the numbers haven’t at all times been overwhelming the final a number of years. He is aware of individuals are going to take a look at the contract and surprise if he’s value it. He is aware of the narrative round operating backs with a ton of profession touches.
And Saquon Barkley is aware of that even after two Professional Bowls, three 1,000-yard seasons and greater than 7,000 scrimmage yards earlier than his twenty seventh birthday, there are questions he received’t have the ability to reply till he hits the sphere.
“I believe, the purpose I’m in my profession, simply to have the ability to get a contemporary begin is sweet,” Barkley mentioned Thursday. “One thing new, a unique pleasure. I really feel like I am a rookie once more.”
With a $12.6 million common on his three-year, $37.75 million contract, Barkley is the highest-paid operating again in Eagles historical past and the 5th-highest-paid operating again within the NFL.
However the questions on whether or not he is value it are legitimate. He’s been underneath 4.0 yards per carry two of the final three years, and his 4.0 common since 2020 ranks 23rd amongst 29 operating backs with no less than 500 carries.
Miles Sanders is sixth on that checklist at 4.8. D’Andre Swift is 10th at 4.6 Barkley is 23rd.
“I really feel like I am a particular participant, I really feel like I nonetheless acquired rather a lot left and I’ve acquired rather a lot to show and I simply can’t wait to get on the sphere with these guys and show it and present it to the world,” he mentioned.
A number of the numbers aren’t elite, however Barkley has additionally had two seasons that only a few operating backs have ever had. In 2018 and 2022, he ran for over 1,300 yards, caught over 50 passes, had over 1,600 scrimmage yards and made the Professional Bowl.
The Eagles are playing {that a} wholesome Barkley with a greater offensive line than he’s ever had and much better ability guys round him can nonetheless be the participant who had eight touchdowns of fifty or extra yards, 17 100-yard speeding video games and 47 touchdowns throughout his stick with the Giants.
“I do not get into the analytics and all that stuff,” he mentioned. “I imagine that the work you place in is what you get out, and I’ll proceed to have that mindset.”
Barkley’s manufacturing – like most backs – has been carefully associated to his well being. When he’s been wholesome, he’s put up superb numbers. However he suffered an ankle sprain early in his second season, when he dropped from over 2,000 scrimmage yards to simply over 1,400. He missed most of 2020 with a torn ACL after which handled an ankle damage and stringer that affected him in 2021. He performed final yr with ankle and elbow accidents.
Maintain him wholesome and also you’re onto one thing.
However even going into his seventh yr and with every part he’s completed thus far, Barkley nonetheless believes the most effective is but to return.
“That is simply me, that is my mindset,” he mentioned. “I am at all times gonna have that mindset yearly.
“How can I get higher? How can I enhance? Return, watch the little issues (and) study from the errors and simply maintain leveling up. I really feel like that is the mindset that you must have.”
To know how pleased Barkley is, consider his finest season in six years with the Giants was 9 wins. The Eagles averaged greater than 9 wins the final six years.
“I do know everybody’s caught on final yr, however being 11-6 and making it to the primary spherical (of the playoffs) and that is a down yr? That is an excellent tradition you need to be part of when you will have that mindset the place it is like, ‘No, we have to do far more.’
“I understand how particular this place is and I understand how particular a participant that I imagine I might be and I am simply pleased to be part of it.”
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