So, here's where we are. We've been saying this since Nick Sirianni announced Saquon Barkley would 'probably' be one of the Philadelphia Eagles who sat out of Week 18's regular-season finale. It was impossible to make a decision that would make everyone happy.
By now you've heard. Saquon's run at history will end 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's record. Everyone has taken their opportunity to offer an opinion.
Let's rewind to New Year's Eve. Debate still raged, and no one knew which direction Philly would take. Fans and the media offered their opinion. Some thought Barkley's opportunity to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record made attempting to do so make sense.
In the end, Coach Sirianni did what most of us expected (and wanted). He put team goals above those of individual players... We think...
Technically, all he said was Saquon Barkley would 'probably' be one of the starters that rested. 'Probably' means we still might see him, right?
Or, are we clutching at straws there?
Saquon Barkley reacts to Nick Sirianni's announcement.
Before we go any further, let's add some clarity here. Nick Sirianni made the right decision. One must evaluate the best and worst-case scenarios when making calls like these. The latter is enough to exercise caution.
What if Saquon played vs. the New York Giants, got hurt, and couldn't play in the NFL's postseason? What if Philly missed out on a shot to win the Super Bowl in his absence?
So, rather than make a decision that could potentially result in one of the most catastrophic decisions in franchise history, Nick aired on the side of caution.
Saquon Barkley was asked about the decision on Wednesday.
Saquon on not going for the all-time single season rushing record:
— Devan Kaney (@Devan_Kaney) January 1, 2025
“It was an opportunity to imprint my name in football history. Might not ever get an opportunity like that again…but at the end of the day I don’t care for putting the team at risk.” pic.twitter.com/IIa36Jh7eL
You can't blame him for being honest, right? Why wouldn't he want to break the record, but if he's at peace with the decision, we can live with that.
Saquon is right. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. There's a chance he may never have that opportunity again. But, something tells us that if Philly hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy, that will ease the pain.
Bigger goals have yet to be accomplished. Philly has earned the second seed in the NFC. Let's go out and get another banner for our team, city, and fan base.