Saquon: Critiquing my career longevity is 'bullshit'

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is dismissing criticism about the longevity of high-usage players at his position.

"That's bullshit," Barkley told the Philadelphia Inquirer's EJ Smith. "Marcus Allen played until he was 36, 37 years old. Some of the greats that I admire and I look up and study, they played well into their 30s. Barry (Sanders) left at 29, 30 and he left in his prime. It's what you put in, what you put in is what you get out. That's any position."

He added: "When it's over for me, it's over for me. But I feel like if I continue to put the right stuff in my body and do the right things, there will be a day when I'm 32 or 33 and I want to hang it up, and I'm going to do it just because."

Barkley burst onto the scene in his first campaign after the New York Giants selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He racked up a league-high 2,028 scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns on his way to being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. After surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons, injuries slowed the former Penn State star's rapid ascent.

An ACL injury forced him to miss all but two games in the 2020 campaign, and an ankle sprain in 2023 hampered his ability. Barkley says that most of the injuries that have caused him to sit out are "flukes" and nothing could have been done to prevent them.

"For me, it's simple. When I'm on the field, I'm one of the best, if not the best. I just have to stay on the field," he said.

Barkley signed a one-year deal with the Giants last offseason after New York franchise-tagged him. The two sides held informal talks about an extension after the 2023 season but the organization didn't give the tailback a formal offer before free agency.

The Giants' handling of the star running back has been on full display in HBO's "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants." General manager Joe Schoen encouraged Barkley to explore the market and circle back to see if the two sides could agree to a new deal. While New York was interested in keeping Barkley, the team remained heavily invested in quarterback Daniel Jones and had other areas on the roster that needed to be addressed.

The two-time Pro Bowler ultimately signed with the division rival Eagles, inking a three-year, $37.75-million contract in March that included $26 million guaranteed.

Barkley is channeling the negativity into motivation as he aims to etch his name in the record books among his idols at the position in the second half of his career.

"Anyone that tells you that you don't get motivation from naysayers is lying," he said.

The 27-year-old rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 41 receptions for 280 yards and four scores in 2023, his final season with the Giants. The dynamic halfback is expected to help elevate a talented Eagles' offense headlined by quarterback Jalen Hurts alongside wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.