Why Eagles' Saquon Barkley turned down Donald Trump's special invitation
This after Barkley golfed with the President and flew on his private plane before the Eagles' visit to the White House on April 28 to celebrate the team's Super Bowl victory.
EAGLES CAMP: These 2 DBs keep showing All Pro skills. Saquon Barkley's new role?
But on Aug. 4, Barkley said he was flattered to be asked, but that he was going to be "super busy" with the NFL season rapidly approaching, and thus couldn't serve.
"A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council," Barkley said after practice. "So I'm not really too familiar with it. I felt like I am going to be super busy, so me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that.
"I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned."
Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book
Trump issued an executive order on July 31st establishing the council, which is tasked with advising the president and recommending actions on a number of fronts. That includes challenges and school-based programs that reward excellence in physical education; fitness goals for American youth, with the aim of fostering a new generation of healthy, active citizens; and strategies for reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test.
Trump's executive order said up to 30 members will serve on the council. Some of those named, in addition to Barkley, were 49ers star Nick Bosa, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau.
Others include retired golfers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles' championship season in 'Flying High,' a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles' Saquon Barkley turns down spot on Donald Trump's fitness council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eagles preseason superstar Tanner McKee called his shot after Madden snub
Eagles preseason superstar Tanner McKee called his shot after Madden snub originally appeared on The Sporting News The Philadelphia Eagles have kept themselves competitive by making the most of their assets, even as perpetual success limits draft capital. Before the league was out on Carson Wentz, they took quarterback Jalen Hurts in Day 2. They've turned a first-round pick into A.J. Brown, rolled the dice on Jalen Carter's sinking stock, and found an All-Pro offensive tackle on the other side of the globe. General manager Howie Roseman is among the best in the sport, and his next move might have become apparent on Thursday. Tanner McKee showed out Backup quarterback Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick, has sit behind a handful of second-string passers, doing his best work in the preseason but attempting just 45 passes in his NFL career. In that time, he's become one of the better-kept secrets in the NFL. He looks the part, and it's clear Philadelphia thinks highly of him. EA Sports, apparently, doesn't. In a video released by the team ahead of their preseason opener, McKee learned that he was a 61 overall. "Whoa! Madden, come on man," he joked. "Alright, watch Thursday. Tune in. Be ready." On Thursday, Philadelphia hosted the Cincinnati Bengals and gave McKee the lion's share of playing time. He responded with a casual 252 yards and two touchdowns while completing 20-of-25 attempts. McKee looked like the best player of Preseason Week 1, exhibiting strong timing and an ability to stretch the field, even against the Bengals' starting defense. MORE: Eagles have big plans for Saquon Barkley as a receiver In doing so, McKee put himself on the radar, inserting his name in trade rumors and raising his national profile. It's worth noting that Philadelphia traded last year's second-string quarterback, Kenny Pickett, to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they took Syracuse passer Kyle McCord in Round 6. Both made cameos in Thursday's 34-27 win, although neither left much of an impression. The Eagles could look to capitalize on McKee's hype, having two extra bodies as reinforcements should they receive legitimate draft capital for his services. What seems more likely, though, is that they feel comfortable with his development and would prefer to hold onto him as insurance during a Super Bowl window, raising the floor of a worst-case scenario in which Jalen Hurts goes down while also inflating his value. McKee put on a show. While the Eagles may not act on it, Madden probably should. MORE EAGLES NEWS Backup to Jalen Hurts secures role in Eagles' preseason victory over Bengals Saquon Barkley chosen as cover athlete for EA Sports' Madden 26 Cooper DeJean's game-changing strengths stand out, but 1 area still tests him Where to watch Eagles preseason games 2025
The Hill
3 minutes ago
- The Hill
VP Vance Brushes Off Talk of 2028 Presidential Bid, Prefers Fishing Tales Across The Pond
Vice President JD Vance, on vacation with his family in Great Britain, received a kind welcome from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the MP's residence, the historic Chevening House in Kent, England. The vice president brushed aside a reporter's reference to a suggestion from President Trump that Vance might well succeed him in the Oval Office, joking that he didn't "want to talk about lowly things like politics in this grand house." Vance was less modest about his family's successes on a fishing excursion with Lammy, expressing concern that the American visitors' better show of angling skill or luck might imperil the two countries' special relationship.
USA Today
3 minutes ago
- USA Today
Archie Manning pumps the brakes on grandson Arch Manning entering 2026 NFL Draft
One of the top projected potential talents eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft is Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. The debate about if Manning will actually enter the draft after his first season at the helm in Austin has generally leaned against Manning leaving for the draft. That lean toward the prodigy stayting in school for at least two more years just got a lot stronger. The periodical Texas Monthly ran a feature on young Arch that saw the patriarch of the Manning family, longtime NFL quarterback Archie, flatly reject any notion that his grandson was going to leave Texas after the 2025 college season. 'Arch isn't going to do that," Archie Manning said. "He'll be at Texas.' Arch Manning is taking over for Quinn Ewers, who was the Longhorns' primary starter a year ago. He completed 67.8% of his passes, netting 939 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions. Manning also rushed for 100 yards and four TDs. His grandson's precociousness certainly weighs on Archie. "People are saying he's a Heisman candidate," the elder Manning stated. "You're not a Heisman Trophy candidate when you haven't played but three games. It's crazy." Archie Manning was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. His sons, Arch's uncles Peyton and Eli, were the No. 1 overall picks in 1998 and 2004, respectively.
