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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles could dominate with lighter Saquon Barkley load and more strategy
Eagles could dominate with lighter Saquon Barkley load and more strategy It sounds off base, but the Eagles would be wise to deploy Saquon Barkley less often. It doesn't matter how often we watch the highlights or look at the Philadelphia Eagles' roster. It's still hard to believe Saquon Barkley sits atop the team's running backs depth chart. Sure, everyone saw him last season, but in many ways, his presence still feels like a dream no one wants to wake up from. This, however, wasn't imaginary. In just his first season with the Birds, he pieced together the most outstanding season by a free-agent acquisition in the organization's nine-decade history. No one will forget the 2,000-yard rushing campaign. No one will forget seeing him house one during Philadelphia's first play from scrimmage in the NFC Championship Game. So, what does he do for an encore? Is it off the wall to suggest giving him a lighter load during the coming NFL season? Featuring Saquon Barkley in an Eagles running back committee could be precisely what the doctor ordered. In just one season in Philadelphia, Saquon won the Super Bowl and the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year Award. He was named a First-Team All-Pro. He led the league in rushing and grabbed another Pro Bowl mention and the Bert Bell Award. That being said, no one would blame you if you're among the contingent who believe it's asinine to give him the ball less often, but he plays the game's most punishing position. Isn't it reasonable to state that moderate usage helps increase the chances that he'll be fresh once Philadelphia reaches the postseason? Committee approaches have their advantages. If Philadelphia is interested, they have the necessary ingredients to field the NFL's best. They have the best player at his respective position (Saquon). They have a sledgehammer who can handle short-yardage (A.J. Dillon). They also have a versatile youngster, one who is an accomplished returner and receiver who can spell both with some quality snaps (Will Shipley). Make no mistake. This is Saquon's unit. He's the guy, but he's also coming off a season where he led the league in carries (345) and touches (378). That's a ton and a heavy workload, even for someone as talented as Barkley. He's a threat to hit a home run every time he touches the ball, but that doesn't mean Philadelphia needs to burn him out by his second season. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently penned his ranking of the NFL's best running back duos ahead of the 2025 NFL season. It's flawed. Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton make the list, but Derrick Henry and Justice Hill don't. That alone says a ton. Do what you will with that information, but here's something interesting. Barkley and A.J. Dillon both make the list, and they're ranked fourth. Sure, no one has ever thought of Saquon and A.J. as a one-two punch, but if you look past that, an interesting point is made here. Give Saquon more help and, maybe, a few more breathers, and there's no telling how high this Eagles team can fly. This committee idea doesn't always allow individuals to shine, but it could turn out to be just what the doctor ordered.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Lamar Jackson's deal is a Ravens masterpiece hiding in plain sight
Lamar Jackson's deal is a Ravens masterpiece hiding in plain sight The Baltimore Ravens' best player may also be their biggest bargain. When the NFL reaches its 200th season, new periodicals will be written. A second centennial team will be announced, we will certainly mention Baltimore Ravens legends. A team representing another century of football could very well include one Lamar Jackson. He still has work to do to make that inclusion a guarantee, but the two-time MVP knows that. The 2025-26 campaign doubles as his eighth at the professional level, and the resume is already very impressive. Action Jackson is a two-time Bert Bell Award winner. He's a three-time First-Team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler. He led the NFL in touchdown passes tossed during the 2019 season. He led all of pro football in passer rating. One would think an asset with that resume would be so expensive that his team could barely afford to pay his salary, but the Ravens found a way to reward brilliance without bankruptcy. On April 27, 2023, he inked a five-year contract worth $260 million with $185 million guaranteed. Two years later, that one is still being viewed as a masterclass in contract writing. Lamar Jackson's deal with the Ravens continues to earn rave reviews. At the time of his deal's announcement, Jackson passed Jalen Hurts as the highest-paid player in NFL history just ten days after the Philadelphia Eagles star agreed to terms in his extension. Jackson's record-setting number would be surpassed by Justin Herbet three months later, but as we enter another season of pro football, the consensus is familiar. It's hard to fathom the Ravens getting this level of production without setting the franchise back a la Deshaun Watson's deal with the Cleveland Browns. FOX Sports' Henry McKenna recently evaluated the NFL's mega QB contracts and agreed that Baltimore is getting a steal in what they are handing to Lamar Jackson. "Here's a guy who could easily be sitting up there with (Dak) Prescott — or, at the very least, with (Joe) Burrow and (Josh) Allen. Certainly, Jackson was sitting atop those other signal-callers when he received the AP MVP for the 2023 season, his second such award. Hate on him if you want. Compare him to (Patrick) Mahomes if you want. Jackson is one of the most dominant football players in the league. The Ravens are enjoying all that impressive play without having to pay top dollar." While mentioning Lamar's brilliance, we are often steered in the direction of noting what is perhaps the most overstated discussion in his evaluation: his lack of success during the postseason. It's fair to ask questions. It's fair to talk about pressure or demand more of one of the league's best players. It is also fair to remind the detractors of a little NFL history. Peyton Manning wasn't seen as a great postseason performer until he was. John Elway wasn't regarded as a great postseason performer until he proved to be one. Lamar needs that Lombardi Trophy. He knows that, and it is fair to wager that it won't elude him forever. He has shone bright under the bright lights. He is too good and too talented to miss the mark forever, and thanks to Baltimore's ingenuity in how they have structured his deal, they have ensured themselves that they can put the proper talent around him. That's perhaps the best part of this entire story.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Abdul Carter Wants Legendary Giants Uniform Number
On Thursday night, the New York Giants made Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter's selection came after Miami QB Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to No. 2 to select Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, making the Giants' selection of Carter an easy decision. Advertisement Carter will pair up with Kayvon Thibodeaux on the edge, instantly becoming one of the NFL's top edge duos. After being selected with the third pick, Carter spoke with Dallas Cowboys superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons, and made it clear that he has a different number in mind than his Penn State number (11). "I don't know, but I got a different number in mind," Carter said. "56 sounds real good, but we gotta have a conversation, I don't know." 56 of course belongs to Lawrence Taylor, one of the greatest defensemen in NFL history. Taylor was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft and spent his entire 13 year career with the Giants. Taylor's No. 56 is one of 14 numbers retired by the Giants, and few are as deserving as Taylor's. In his Hall of Fame Career, Taylor made 10 Pro Bowl appearances, was named to the All-Pro First Team eight times, won the 1986 MVP award, becoming the first defensive player to win the award unanimously. Taylor also won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, the Bert Bell Award, and two Super Bowls. Advertisement Taylor played 184 games with the Giants, falling 142 sacks, nine interceptions (including two pick-sixes), two forced fumble and 11 fumble recoveries. Taylor is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.8 Carter aspires to be the next great Giants edge rusher, and he'll have the opportunity as soon as the 2025 NFL season starts as a likely Week 1 starter. In Carter's final season at Penn State, he led the nation with 24 tackles for loss, while also tallying 68 tackles and 12 sacks. Related: Giants Complete Defensive Line WIth Third-Round Pick Related: Carter Reacts to Joining Giants' Loaded Line
Reuters
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Saquon Barkley can earn another bonus if Eagles win SB LIX
February 9 - Saquon Barkley will have many reasons to enjoy his 28th birthday, provided the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday night in New Orleans. An Eagles' victory in the big game would net Barkley a $250,000 incentive bonus, which would match the total he received after Philadelphia's 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game. Barkley rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in that game. Barkley, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, already has earned $3 million in incentives, per ESPN. That's quite the boost for Barkley, who signed a three-year contract worth $37.75 million last March -- complete with an $11.625 million signing bonus. Barkley also could make NFL history on Sunday. His 2,447 rushing yards accumulated over the regular season (2,005) and the playoffs (442) are just 29 shy of the NFL record held by Terrell Davis, set in 1998 with the Denver Broncos. Barkley joined the Eagles in the offseason after a six-year run with the New York Giants, with whom he totaled 5,211 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. This season, his yards gained and his 15 rushing touchdowns spearheaded the Eagles' potent ground game during their push to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LIX appearance. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Barkley was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024. He also earned several Rookie of the Year awards in 2018 before winning the Bert Bell Award (top NFL player) in 2024.
