Philadelphia (AP) — Saquon Barkley was already scheduled to visit Happy Valley this week to catch up
Philadelphia (AP) — Saquon Barkley was already scheduled to visit Happy Valley this week to catch up with his former Penn State coach, James Franklin. Barkley believes he may have to punish Franklin for getting the Philadelphia Eagles into trouble with the NFL before the new running back signed a contract.
Franklin stated ahead of Penn State’s pro day that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke with Barkley and pitched him on the connection between the Eagles and Nittany Lions fan bases as one of the reasons to leave the rival New York Giants for Philadelphia.
That’s against NFL rules.
The NFL is investigating whether the Eagles violated tampering policies during the permissible tampering period, a league spokesperson said Thursday. The Eagles have refuted the allegations.
Barkley claims there is nothing to see here.
The 27-year-old running back, who inked a three-year contract worth $26 million guaranteed, claimed on Thursday that Franklin “misinterpreted” the interaction. Barkley stated that his agency provided him with all of the facts during negotiations.
Barkley hopes to clear up any doubt when he visits Franklin during pro day on Friday.
“I guess we’ll have that conversation,” Barkley added, laughing.
Barkley, along with linebackers Bryce Huff and Zack Baun, were unveiled Thursday at the team’s facilities, as part of a swift roster change following the Eagles’ late-season collapse. Safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson has returned to the organization after leaving in free agency a year earlier. Wide receiver DeVante Parker will receive a $4.69 million guarantee in his one-year contract, while the Eagles have also signed offensive tackle Matt Hennessy.
The Eagles also reached an agreement with former Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White for a one-year contract worth $7.5 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been formalized.
Barkley sheepishly admitted on Thursday he let his emotions get the best of him.
“I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media,” he said. “I think I could have gave a proper goodbye.”
He hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on him. The Eagles pounced and made Barkley the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
The Giants used the franchise tag last season on Barkley and eventually worked out a one-year, $10.1 million contract before the start of training camp. A franchise tag this year would have cost the team $12.2 million if Barkley accepted the offer.
Barkley played in 14 games last season, missing three because of a high ankle sprain. He ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns and had 41 catches, including four TDs.
Barkley has run for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns, along with 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs in his six-year career.
He now wants to play a part in making an Eagles team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago and started 10-1 last year until a 1-6 finish (including a playoff loss) a championship contender again.
“I know everyone’s stuck on last year, but being 11-6 and making it to the first round, and that’s a down year, that’s a great culture you want to be a part of, when you have that mindset where it’s like, ‘No, we need to do way more,’” Barkley said. “I know how special this place is and how special a player I believe that I can be, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
