Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis crowns 'prototype' Saquon Barkley as the 'best running back' in NFL
NEW ORLEANS – Jerome Bettis might know a thing or two about success in the backfield.
A two-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl running back, and Super Bowl champion, Bettis was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Saquon Barkley is now well on his way to a gold jacket himself after becoming the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, and because of that historic performance, Bettis said no one is ahead of Barkley at the moment.
"I think Saquon Barkley is the best running back in the NFL right now. He's special," Bettis said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "He can do everything that you want a running back to do – catch it in the backfield, catch it deep, catch it in the flat, run for a first down, run for power, he can break it anywhere on the field. This guy is the ultimate running back.
"He's the prototype – if you draw up what a running back should be, it's Saquon Barkley."
Barkley, of course, was drafted second overall by the New York Giants in 2018. After spending six seasons there, the new regime opted to let him go, and it's been a nightmare for Big Blue ever since.
To rub salt in the wound, Barkley will now suit up for the Birds in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The big game was once "bittersweet" for "The Bus" Shortly after winning his title, he lost his father at the age of 61 to a heart attack. Perhaps maybe the best moment of his life was almost immediately followed by the worst, but Bettis is now able to fully "understand the importance of this game" and take it all in.
So, Bettis, like Barkley, is in New Orleans this year to spread awareness about heart health, teaming up with the CDC Foundation's "Live to the Beat" campaign in efforts to keep people from a life cut short like his dad.
"The whole idea is to get people to understand and see that heart health is important, and they can do small things to change what that heart health will be in the future," he said. "The quality of life, everything that goes with it. Small changes to your diet, taking a little bit of sugar out of that diet, working out, going for a walk on a daily basis, just small things that can really encourage heart health.
"Looking at my mortality, I'm 52, so I'm saying to myself I've got to make sure I'm doing some of those things that helps me so that I'm not a victim of a heart attack or high blood pressure, a stroke, those type of issues that come with poor heart health. I'm making sure people hear my story, and maybe they're inspired to make a change."
NFL players don't go into the Hall of Fame representing a team like baseball players do, but if that were the case, it would be hard to argue that Barkley wouldn't have an Eagles helmet if they win this title, Bettis said.
"He's done something no Eagle has ever done, run for 2,000 yards, and has a chance to give them another championship. He would be cemented in the legacy of the Philadelphia Eagles," he said. "If you talk about the history of the Eagles, you cannot not mention Saquon Barkley."
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
34 minutes ago
- New York Post
Recent grad has life-changing $270,000 bet riding on Oilers, Thunder championships
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. New York sports bettor Drew Hirschman graduated college last month, but that hasn't been on his mind over the past few weeks. Hirschman bet $13 last year on a long-shot five-leg parlay that is now very close to cashing in for more than $270,000. The 24-year-old already hit on the Dodgers to win the World Series (+300), Liberty to win the WNBA Finals (+190) and Eagles to win the Super Bowl (+1700). His two remaining legs are the Thunder to win the NBA Finals (+850) and Oilers to win the Stanley Cup (+850), putting him six wins away — three from each — from a $270,761.40 payday. 3 Meet Drew Hirschman, the college graduate who has a chance at $270k if the Oilers and Thunder win titles. NY Post But now comes the hard part for Hirschman, who received his computer engineering degree from Binghamton University in May: solving the complicated math problem of finding the right way to cash in. 'He's been fielding some offers and also looking at hedge opportunities,' Wager Wire CEO Travis Greiger told The Post. Hirschman said he's not a 'huge' bettor and described this chain of events as 'pure luck.' 'I got home from work and I saw Saquon [Barkley] went to the Eagles and I'm a Giants fan and I was like, 'This guy is too talented, this team is too good, I can't imagine they don't go on a deep run.' So, I did some crafting and came up with this,' Hirschman told The Post. 'I am currently unemployed, looking for jobs. Living with my parents in Suffern (N.Y.). This gives me a little gap where I don't have to feel too pressured.' 3 The Oilers are in a 2-1 hole. AP Hirschman has hedged a bit at Caesars Sportsbook with the help of his father — a 'math guy' who has been financing his hedge combinations. He said he's hedged more than $50,000, which leaves his ceiling just shy of $210,000. 'I definitely emptied my bank accounts,' Hirschman said. 'I'm very lucky to have a good support system. My dad is an actuary, he's a math guy, he knows what he's doing here. We put together (a plan) that) we thought is secure that will give us a good outcome. He's definitely been very helpful with the funds here as well. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I have over $50 grand to splash.' 3 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to lead the Thunder to a title. AP If he wins, the new college graduate has a clear goal of 'don't blow it.' 'Going to max out the 401K, max out the Roth. Add to the emergency fund. Going to have a little fun. Maybe a little vacation. Bring the boys out to dinner. Bring my family out to dinner,' Hirschman said. 'I actually planned a little Vegas trip but not going to get too crazy. I also think property is a cool way to do it.' Hirschman has been offered between $105,000-$115,000 for the ticket, although he's rejected those opportunities to date. He received an intriguing $135,000 offer for the ticket which was nearly the exact value, according to WagerWire's true value calculator, but that offer was pulled before a deal could be pursued. His cash out value was more than $80,000 at DraftKings prior to the Oilers' 6-1 Game 3 loss to the Panthers. Hirschman was flown out by Bleacher Report (@Br_Betting on X) to produce content for the game on social media. 'I feel like a mini-celebrity right now, which is pretty cool,' Hirschman said. 'I'm in the works of getting to Edmonton for Game 5 and going to do a little North American tour.' Betting on the NBA? The Oilers' Game 3 loss, which put them in a 2-1 series deficit, was a tough pill to swallow for both this bettor and the team. Edmonton dropped from -105 to +205 odds to win the Stanley Cup after getting smashed, while the Thunder are massive -525 NBA Finals favorite entering Wednesday's Game 3 with that series even at a game apiece. Hirschman is still a winner here regardless of the series' winners thanks to some math work, but he is still willing to sell the ticket. With the Game 3 loss, the ticket is worth $72,203 according to the true value calculator. Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
NBC Sports
34 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Stefon Diggs won't discuss the contents of his bag on the boat
Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs met with reporters on Tuesday, for the first time since his notorious pink powder club boat video. Not surprisingly, Diggs had not much to say. Via Mike Reiss of here's what Diggs said about the video and his standing with coach Mike Vrabel: 'I want to be as candid with you as possible but I kind of have a thing where I don't talk about my personal life with people I don't know personally. . . . I had a conversation with Vrabel obviously and I'll echo everything he said, hoping everybody is making good decisions. And I had a conversation with people in the building as well. So everything else is everything else. The particulars are all internal.' He then was asked about the most important particular: What was in the bag? 'Obviously it's a conversation that's happening internal, which I can't have too much of a conversation about it,' Diggs said. 'I've been in this league 10 years. You can format your question many different ways, I'm obviously going to answer it the same way.' Diggs has no reason to confirm that the contents of the bag were something other Pixy Sticks or Fun Dip. If he admits the contents were what common sense would suggest them to be, he would be more likely to be placed in the NFL's substance-abuse program based on behavior. For all anyone knows (since the league has declined comment on the situation) Diggs already has been placed in the program, based on the video. Given the revisions to the policy, which make it extremely difficult to get suspended, it's highly unlikely we'll ever know that the video triggered any consequences under the substance-abuse program — unless Diggs were to talk about it. Based on his responses to Tuesday's questions, it's safe to say he won't.
USA Today
34 minutes ago
- USA Today
Cameron Jordan, Tyrann Mathieu debut bold new hairstyles at Saints minicamp
Cameron Jordan, Tyrann Mathieu debut bold new hairstyles at Saints minicamp 'I was trying to shave some years off' A couple of New Orleans Saints veterans made their 2025 debuts in reporting for work at Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice -- and two of them were sporting bold new hairstyles. Change is nothing new for Cameron Jordan, who has had some fun with his NFL-mandated headshot each season over the years, but his new platinum locks inspired by HBO's "House of the Dragon" series are something else. Jordan started binging the popular "Game of Thrones" spinoff this summer and picked up some fashion tips along the way. "I wanted to be a Velaryon," Jordan told reporters after practice, referring to one of the noble houses known for their distinctive bleach-blonde hair. "And I was like, 'You know what, this guy. This guy's got something going on.' Now granted, I thought I'd do the beard, too, but I didn't like the way the fumes was rising. So I kept it exactly how I wanted to. I think this is me. I'll see how long it lasts." But Jordan wasn't the only Saints veteran switching it up. Tyrann Mathieu has worn dreads for most of his 12-year NFL career, but he cut them off back earlier this spring. Speaking with reporters at his locker, he joked that "I was trying to shave some years off" before celebrating his 33rd birthday in May. Maybe the change can help him. Mathieu has intercepted 36 passes in his NFL career, trailing only Harrison Smith (37) for the most among active players. He wants that title for himself, and if a fresh cut puts a spring in his step, then so be it.
