“Any time you get really good players, it’s always exciting,” “I always say this: The secret to good coaching is get good players and we got a really good player. We’re figuring the different ways we can use him. That doesn’t necessarily mean that every way he’s been used in the past is how we’re going to use him. There might be some things that are untapped. There might be some things that we’ve never done that we can do now. Might be things that he’s never done.
The Philadelphia Eagles franchise, signed the versatile running back Saquon Barkley earlier this month in free agency.
The team has been profuse in their praise for the new addition, with reviews coming from all corners of the club’s management.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, in his recent interaction, cast his vote of confidence in the newly acquired Barkley.
Lurie compared Barkley’s versatility to that of legendary Eagles halfbacks, LeSean McCoy and Brian Westbrook, particularly for their contribution to the passing attack.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie compares Saquon Barkley's versatility to LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrookhttps://t.co/F2pTgQyvfq pic.twitter.com/WegX8xvkOT
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 28, 2024
“I think with Saquon, one of the things we always talk about, whether it was LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrook, is the value of a running back is it’s not even the word of the title ‘running back.’ You have to be a great passing attack running back as well. For us, it’s got to be multifunctional,” Lurie said. “And he exhibited a very special skill set both in the running and the passing game that we think certainly can be maximized by being on a team with better skill positions, quarterback, offensive line. So, it was a strategy to go.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is among those excited about working with the talented Barkley.
He voiced his confidence in Barkley’s ability to fit in any offensive setup, citing that a player of Barkley’s caliber could elevate any offensive unit.
“That unknown gives us a lot of options and ways to incorporate Saquon, because he has that kind of skill set. There are a lot of things that can happen as we put this all together.”
As the offseason commences, the team will be working on deploying this dual-threat back to his best potential.
Barkley’s contract, which averages $12.583 million, indicates a drastic shift in the Eagles’ spending approach towards running backs.
When asked about this, Lurie dismissed any suggestions of overindulgence. He clarified that the club has never hesitated in paying its key players what they’re worth.
“I know people think, well, we don’t spend on the running back position,” he said. “That’s never really been the case. We would do it very carefully. So, LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrook, those are instances of players that are really multi-purpose running backs that improve the passing attack, improve the running attack.
“And it’s, I think, (GM) Howie (Roseman) said it, it’s hard to find exceptionally talent players. If you think about it, what we pay Saquon Barkley, take another position of what that’s getting in the league and you tell me, is it better to pay Saquon that kind of money or a player at a different position that’s getting the exact same amount of money? That’s a decision. And Howie led the way there and felt that Saquon was the right way to spend that money.”
