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Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Saquon Barkley Earns National Award As Eagles Hope For Repeat Performance
Saquon Barkley Earns National Award As Eagles Hope For Repeat Performance originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles' blockbuster acquisition of Saquon Barkley continues to pay dividends, as the star running back was named the NFL's top player at his position heading into the 2025 season by The Associated Press. Advertisement Barkley's remarkable first campaign in midnight green earned him seven of eight first-place votes from the AP's panel of Pro Football Writers, cementing his status as the league's premier ground threat after a season that redefined excellence at the position. The numbers from Barkley's debut Eagles season read like a video game stat sheet. His 2,005 regular-season rushing yards came tantalizingly close to Eric Dickerson's all-time record of 2,105 — falling just 101 yards short after the Eagles rested him in a meaningless Week 18 matchup. But it was his postseason performance that truly etched his name in history. Including playoff games, Barkley amassed 2,504 rushing yards, obliterating Terrell Davis' previous record of 2,476. Perhaps most impressively, he recorded seven touchdown runs of 60 yards or more throughout the season — a feat that showcased not just his breakaway speed but his ability to consistently break games wide open. Barkley's impact on the Eagles organization has been transformative, changing not just the team's offensive capabilities but its entire championship trajectory. The AP recognition comes on the heels of an offseason that has seen Barkley reach unprecedented heights for a running back. His record-breaking performance helped secure a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million, with $36 million guaranteed — the richest deal ever for a player at his position. Advertisement The accolades didn't stop there. Barkley was selected as the cover athlete for Madden 26 and, most importantly, helped lead the Eagles to their Super Bowl LIX championship, providing the ground game that proved unstoppable in the playoffs. While Barkley dominated the voting, the competition for the top spot was fierce. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who defied age-related expectations with 1,921 rushing yards at age 30, earned the lone remaining first-place vote and finished second overall. Henry's performance marked the most rushing yards ever by a player after turning 30, surpassing Tiki Barber's previous record. Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs claimed third place after a breakout sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 517 receiving yards. His 36 total touchdowns over his first two seasons trail only Hall of Famer Curtis Martin's record of 37. Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey rounded out the top five, with McCaffrey's ranking reflecting both his immense talent and the injury concerns that limited him to just four games last season. Advertisement Barkley's success in Philadelphia represents the perfect marriage of talent and opportunity. After six seasons with the New York Giants yielded individual brilliance but team-wide frustration, his move across the NFC East proved transformative for both player and franchise. The Eagles' offensive line — anchored by Jason Kelce's successor Cam Jurgens and featuring elite talent across the board — provided the blocking that allowed Barkley's vision and breakaway speed to flourish. Meanwhile, the presence of quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown kept defenses honest, preventing them from loading the box against the run. With the 2025 season on the horizon, Barkley enters not just as the league's top running back but as the centerpiece of an Eagles offense with championship aspirations once again. The question isn't whether he can repeat his historic performance — it's whether he can somehow surpass it. The Eagles open the 2025 season at Lincoln Financial Field, where Barkley will look to begin his second chapter in Philadelphia with the same explosive impact that made his first season unforgettable. Advertisement Related: Eagles Join NFL In Concern Over Second-Round Draft Pick Contract Related: Anonymous GM Offers 'Fluke' Analysis of Saquon Barkley's 2K Season With Eagles This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Premier League club Brentford to sell stake at £400m valuation
The owner of Brentford Football Club has clinched a deal to sell a minority stake in the Premier League side to new investors at a valuation of roughly £400m. Sky News has learnt that an agreement that will involve current owner Matthew Benham offloading a chunk of his holding to Gary Lubner - the wealthy businessman who ran Autoglass-owner Belron - is expected to be announced as early as Tuesday. Matthew Vaughn, the Hollywood film-maker whose credits include Layer Cake and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, is also expected to invest in Brentford as part of the deal, The Athletic reported last month. Further details of the transaction were unclear on Monday night, although one insider speculated that it could ultimately see as much as 25% of the club changing hands. If confirmed, it would underline the continuing interest from wealthy investors in top-flight English clubs. FA Cup winners Crystal Palace have seen a minority stake being bought by Woody Johnson, the New York Jets-owner, in the last few weeks, with that deal hastened by the implications of former shareholder John Textor's simultaneous ownership of a stake in French club Lyon. Sky News revealed in February 2024 that Mr Benham had hired bankers at Rothschild to market a stake in Brentford. Under Mr Benham's stewardship, it has enjoyed one of the most successful transformations in English football, rising from the lower divisions to the top division in 2021. It has also moved from its long-standing Griffin Park home to a new stadium near Kew Bridge. This summer is proving to be one of transition, with manager Thomas Frank joining Tottenham Hotspur and striker Bryan Mbeumo the subject of persistent interest from Manchester United. Brentford did not respond to a request for comment on Monday night, while a spokesman for Mr Lubner declined to comment.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ghana round off Wafcon quarter-final line-up
Alice Kusi and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah were both on the scoresheet for Ghana against Tanzania [Backpage Pix] Ghana secured their passage to the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations by beating Tanzania 4-1, while defending champions South Africa finished top of Group C after cruising to a 4-0 win over Mali. The holders and the Malians were already assured of their spots in the knockout stages before kick-off in Oujda, but Banyana Banyana comprehensively outclassed the West Africans. Advertisement Ghana's margin of victory, coupled with Mali's heavy defeat, means the Black Queens finish second in the table on goal difference and the Malians slip to third. South Africa will stay in Oujda and face Senegal, the third-placed finisher in Group A, in the last eight while Ghana have set up a meeting with Algeria in Berkane. Mali, meanwhile, face hosts Morocco in the capital Rabat. Monday's results saw Botswana eliminated, with the Mares only able to progress as one of two best-ranked third-placed sides if the Ghana-Tanzania game had ended as a draw. Banyana dominant in victory After a lacklustre performance by South Africa in their 1-1 draw against Tanzania on Friday, goals from Lebogang Ramalepe, captain Refiloe Jane, Hildah Magaia and youngster Ronnel Donnelly earned Desiree Ellis's side a comfortable win over Mali. Advertisement It took Banyana Banyana less than five minutes to take the lead as they capitalised on poor Mali defending before Jermaine Seoposenwe picked out Ramalepe and the veteran fired beyond Fatoumata Karentao. Karentao was beaten for a second time after the half-hour mark by Jane's direct free-kick, and the Mali keeper, who was in visible pain towards the end of the first half, was substituted at the break. Alima Cisse replaced her in the Female Eagles goal, and had to pick the ball out of the net in the 61st minute when Magaia slotted home to finish off a well-worked team move. Donnelly, the youngest player in the South Africa squad, wrapped up the scoring in the 79th minute with a scuffed effort. Advertisement After stuttering against Tanzania, Banyana Banyana's dominant win means the side once again look like they could be strong contenders to defend the title they won for the first time in 2022. Ghana see off Tanzania Meanwhile, Ghana and Tanzania met in Berkane, with both sides knowing that victory would secure qualification. The Black Queens went ahead in the 12th minute when Princella Adubea charged down a clearance by the goalkeeper Najiati Idrisa before Stumai Athumani equalised for the East Africans four minutes before the break with a volley from a narrow angle. Ghana were presented with a chance to regain their lead when Anastazia Katunzi scythed down Princess Marfo, and Alice Kusi's 63rd minute penalty squirmed under Idrisa to make it 2-1. Advertisement That left Tanzania needing two goals to progress, and Ghana made the game safe through Evelyn Badu's close-range finish with three minutes remaining. There was still time for London City Lionesses forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah to put the gloss on the scoreline in the final minute with a composed finish into the bottom right-hand corner. Wafcon 2024 quarter-final fixtures Friday Nigeria v Zambia (Casablanca, 16:00 GMT) Morocco v Mali, (Rabat 19:00 GMT) Saturday Algeria v Ghana (Berkane, 16:00 GMT) South Africa v Senegal (Oujda, 19:00 GMT) Semi-final draw Morocco/Mali v Algeria/Ghana Nigeria/Zambia v South Africa/Senegal
