Latest news with #ExcitingMics
NBC Sports
24-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Saquon Barkley calls tush-push opposition "soft"
On Eagles player who would potentially benefit from a tush-push ban is running back Saquon Barkley. He lost plenty of potential touchdowns to his team's signature play. But Barkley wants to the Eagles to keep it. And he had some fairly strong comments for those who want to kill it. 'I think it's soft, to be honest,' Barkley said on the Exciting Mics podcast with teammates Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean, via Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today. 'Everybody can do it. It's not a play that we only can do. We happen to have one of the best and biggest O-lines, and Jalen Hurts can squat 600 pounds. That's not our fault.' Barkley's remarks were made before the unsuccessful vote to eliminate the play. Still, 22 of 32 teams wanted to dump it. That's 68.75 percent of the entire league. 'Josh Allen is super big, they're not successful with it,' Barkley said. (The Bills use a different version of it, and they're the only other team whose success compares to Philly's.) 'Lamar Jackson is one of the best running quarterbacks of all-time, they're not successful with it. So it's not something that everyone can't do. Them trying to eliminate it, I think that's kind of lame.' Barkley made another important point: 'And the teams that want to get rid of it are the teams that gotta see us two or three times a year.' He's right about that. Only two NFC teams joined the Eagles in supporting the ban — the Lions and the Saints. Of the 17 games the Eagles will play in 2024, only one opponent (Detroit) voted to let the Eagles keep their play. The effort to get rid of the play was based on the hypothetical concern that it can create a safety issue, even without the data to prove it. 'Everybody can do it, there's no health issue,' Barkley said. The effort to ban the play will not end. The league office will keep studying the tush push. Which quite possibly means the league office will keep looking for proof to help twist two more arms to get the owners from 68.75 percent to 75 percent. Think of it this way. If the NFL Constitution & Bylaws required a two-third supermajority to change the rules instead of three-fourths, the tush push would already be gone.
Black America Web
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Saquon Barkley on Winning Super Bowl LIX: ‘It Sucked'
Source: Logan Bowles / Getty Philadelphia is still basking in the aura of our Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles; but the euphoria for some players on the team has worn off already. A.J. Brown has already made it clear that winning a Super Bowl did not fulfill him how he thought it would, and now another Eagle is sharing similar sentiments. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley was a featured guest on the Exciting Mics podcast with teammates Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship, where he expressed a plethora of topics including: The Tush Push Ban, SaQUAD Nickname, and the Eagles Super Bowl LIX roster. Barkley went on the record saying that the 2024-2025 Eagles were one of the best roster in NFL History, but he all said something very unorthodox… winning the Superbowl sucked? 'It sucked… I mean… it's something you dream about as a kid, and you practice that moment so many times… it's an amazing feeling' Barkley said. 'Then like, two days after I couldn't sleep because now you're just like… 'how do I do it again''? Eagles wide reciever A.J. Brown couldn't agree more, as he found more thrill in the hunt, in which the Eagles do so well, taking out the hashtag #LetsHunt during their Super Bowl LIX run. 'I've never been a champion at the highest level before but I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all. It wasn't.' Brown captioned in his instagram post. My thrill for this game comes when i dominate. It's the Hunt that does it for me…he Intense battles. Early mornings. Late nights. Sacrifices. I love putting smiles on peoples faces, don't get me wrong but it just wasn't what I thought it would be. It's the journey that I love the most. Check out the full episode of Saquon Barkley on the Exciting Mics podcast, [CLICK HERE] MORE SAQUON BARKLEY READS: RELATED: Love Birds: Meet Saquon Barkley's Girlfriend, Anna Congdon RELATED: Saquon Barkley Responds to Trump Backlash: Maybe I just respect the office RELATED: 'God's Plan': Barkley Reacts to Eagles Sitting Him Shy of NFL Rushing Record RELATED: Saquon Barkley Works Drive-Thru at Raising Cane's in Bucks County SEE ALSO Saquon Barkley on Winning Super Bowl LIX: 'It Sucked' was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
"Soft and lame": Eagles' Saquon Barkley defends tush push with fierce words for the NFL critics
Saquon Barkley slams NFL critics calling for tush push ban (Getty Images) Despite a heated debate and a formal vote at the NFL owners' meeting, the controversial 'tush push' play will remain legal in the 2025 season. Falling just two votes short of the 24 required for a ban, the proposal to eliminate the Philadelphia Eagles' iconic short-yardage tactic was blocked, keeping one of the league's most effective plays alive. And no one seems more thrilled about it than Saquon Barkley—who didn't hold back when calling out the play's critics. Saquon Barkley isn't holding back — calls tush push critics 'lame' in no-nonsense takedown On the Exciting Mics podcast hosted by his Eagles teammates Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship, Barkley delivered a blunt message to the teams that pushed for the ban. 'The banning thing of it, I think it's soft, to be honest,' he said. ''Cause everybody can do it. It's not like a play that we only can do, everybody can do it. It's just, we happen to have one of the best and biggest o-lines and Jalen Hurts can squat 600 pounds. That's not our fault.' Saquon Barkley on Tush Push Ban, SaQUAD Nickname, & Playing For The Eagles | Exciting Mics Ep 2 His remarks reflect growing frustration among players who believe the ban attempt was less about fairness or safety and more about envy. Barkley's tone sharpened as he continued, 'Josh Allen is super big, [the Bills] aren't successful with it. Lamar Jackson is one of the best running quarterbacks of all time, [the Ravens] aren't successful with it. It's not something that everyone can't do, so them trying to eliminate it, I think that's kind of lame. ' The numbers back Barkley's frustration. Since 2022, the Eagles have executed the tush push—also affectionately dubbed the 'Brotherly Shove'—124 times, converting 106 of them into first downs or touchdowns. That's a jaw-dropping 85.5% success rate, including 33 touchdowns. No other team comes close to matching that efficiency. While Barkley isn't the biggest beneficiary of the play—having lost multiple goal-line opportunities to quarterback Jalen Hurts—his support signals a deeper pride in what the Eagles have built. 'For me, personally, as a player, I know if I don't wanna do a tush push on the 1-yard line, make sure I score. I think I got tackled at the 1-yard line like 11 times,' he added, poking fun at his own missed chances. Ultimately, the vote's failure is seen by many Eagles fans—and now clearly some players—as a victory not just for Philadelphia, but for innovation and power football. The attempt to ban the play may have stemmed from concerns over safety, but with no recorded injuries from the play last season, that argument fell flat. For now, the tush push isn't going anywhere. And if Barkley's words are any indication, the Eagles won't be apologizing for perfecting it. Also Read: Did Aaron Glenn just throw subtle shade at Aaron Rodgers? Jets HC's cryptic words stir online debate Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saquon Barkley believes teammate's alma mater played a role in his draft rise
Saquon Barkley believes teammate's alma mater played a role in his draft rise During a recent appearance on Exciting Mics, Saquon Barkley credited one of the hosts' alma maters for elevating his draft stock. Fans and the media outlets pick on them a lot, but as strange as it sounds, Philadelphia Eagles fans everywhere owe the New York Giants a debt of gratitude. You can never prove theories like the following, but hear this one out. This one is interesting and worth tossing around. Had Big Blue not taken Saquon Barkley second overall during the 2018 NFL Draft, he would have never wasted so many prime years there. He probably would have never crossed paths with Joe Schoen. That means last year's offseason debacle by the G-Men never takes place, and if it doesn't, Barkley never makes it to Philly's roster. Sure, other factors are also at play. Howie Roseman had to determine that he finally felt comfortable paying a running back. It may not seem like it now, but this arrangement felt like a slight gamble at the time. It paid off (and still is), but those familiar with Saquon's story know his meteoric rise began long before Philly and Gotham. From what we understand, things began 'paying off' when he tackled a teammate's alma mater at the NCAA level. Saquon Barkley credits Cooper DeJean's Iowa Hawkeyes for raising his draft stock. So, here we are, living in a world where the Philadelphia Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions and there are too many podcasts to count. It can be irritating trying to navigate the terrain and find the handful that are actually worth listening to. Here's one you can certainly place on the list: Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship's Exciting Mics. It's new, but both episodes have delivered the goods. The second featured the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley. The highlights of this one include Saquon calling teams wanting to ban the tush push 'soft' and Mr. Barkley ranking the 2024-25 Eagles as one of the five best Super Bowl-winning teams of all time, but here's another nugget. He credits Cooper DeJean's Iowa Hawkeyes for catapulting him into one of the top prospects of the 2018 NFL Draft class. He went crazy during the 2017 Penn State Nittany Lions football season in a road game during his junior season: Just in case you're curious, Saquon's game against the Hawkeyes, which he is referencing, was one to remember. He ran for 211 yards and scored a touchdown on 28 carries. He added another 94 yards on 12 receptions, but it would take everything Penn State had to put Iowa away. The Nittany Lions pulled this one out in heartstopping fashion as Trace McSorley hit Juwan Johnson on the game's final play to secure a 21-19 victory.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saquon Barkley doesn't mince words when ranking the 2024 Eagles vs. other champs
Saquon Barkley doesn't mince words when ranking the 2024 Eagles vs. other champs If one wants to know where Saquon Barkley believes the 2024-25 Eagles rank, all they have to do is ask him. We're in luck. 'Exciting Mics' did exactly that. What you are experiencing is familiar. You are not alone. That uneasy feeling comes from podcast fatigue. At this point, there are just too many to keep up with. Thousands are covering the Philadelphia Eagles. Some are better than others, but there are also a handful worth tapping the 'subscribe' button to keep up with when they are dropping new material. Here's one you'll need to add to the list: Exciting Mics. It features Philly's 'Exciting Whites', a.k.a. Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean. We'll see if they add rookie Ty Robinson at some point, but until then, they seem to have a nice pool from which they can pluck upcoming guests. How about the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year? Saquon Barkley appeared in the second episode, and you'll undoubtedly want to know what he said about the defending champions. Saquon ranks the 2024-25 Philadelphia Eagles as a top-five team all-time. "I firmly believe, when you look at our team that we had last year, and I know we're not looking too far into the past, but our team last year... I think we're a top-five team of all time." Those were the words of one Saquon Barkley, a tad over a dozen minutes into the Exciting Mics podcast. "If you look at the season, outside of the first four games, like, it was 'belt to ass'". Saquon rushed for 2,005 yards last season, making him only the ninth player in NFL history to have done so. Some say we were robbed of history, that Philly should have allowed him the opportunity to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105). Ultimately, the coaching staff and organization decided they didn't want to risk getting him injured. They determined they couldn't stomach the idea of possibly losing one of their most dangerous offensive weapons for the duration of the postseason. No one can argue with the results of that decision. He and his Eagles are again Super Bowl Champions, and had he not played in the Divisional Round Game vs. the Los Angeles Rams, that may not have happened. But, how about that claim? Top five all-time? That's some excellent company to be in. That places Philly's second Super Bowl winner alongside the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 1985 Chicago Bears. Saquon is a student of the game. He knows that, but he's never been one to mince words. If he believes it, everyone else should think this is worth a conversation.
