NFL analyst spotlights $1,500,000 contract milestone on the line “more significant” than Saquon Barkley’s ability to make history

Saquon Barkley's status for Week 18 has been one of the stories of the workweek. Analysts jumped on both sides to argue for and against the decision. However, both sides mostly agreed that the record was hugely significant in one way or another. That is, with the exception of one NFL analyst, who questioned what it was worth.

On Thursday's edition of "Good Morning Football," Kyle Brandt spotlighted Von Miller's potential to earn $1.5 million with 1.5 sacks against the New England Patriots. Peter Schrager responded, comparing the incentive to Barkley's ability to earn the single-season rushing record.

"The Bills are locked into the two seed, but Von Miller needs just one sack to earn $1.5 million," Brandt sad (01:07). "It's a massive incentive. This is not a quarter million, which is a ton of money."

"I think he plays and he gets it," Schrager said (01:16). "And I think this almost is more significant than Saquon or a lot of these players."

Miller's Buffalo Bills will face the New England Patriots in the regular season finale on Sunday. As a significant player on the team, he is at risk of missing some or all of the game so he can rest for the playoffs. Others may argue the decision on whether he plays is more important than his performance in the game itself.

Decision on Saquon Barkley's Week 18 status incites league-wide reaction

Saquon Barkley at Cowboys at Eagles - Source: Getty

Saquon Barkley was just 100 yards away from eclipsing Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, but Eagles coach Nick Sirianni pulled the plug. The decision had plenty of fans and analysts taking both sides on the issue.

Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy labeled it a "mistake" on "The Facility" on Wednesday.

“It’s a mistake if you don’t let him chase the record," McCoy said. "If we’re playing the Giants and you tried to get rid of my man, you tried to devalue him as a running back? Now he can set the record on you? Everything’s playing out perfectly. Play that game, man. This is bigger than just Saquon Barkley."

One fan's comments are getting some traction online. Taking to Twitter/X on January 1, the fan called it "weak."

"Resting Saquon Barkley is an incredibly weak move. Injuries are always a risk, and (God forbid) Saquon could sit out this week and still get injured in practice. You can’t predict these things. Honestly, I would’ve played him," the fan tweeted.

According to Jon Marks on X, NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky said that the Philadelphia Eagles "better win the whole thing then," placing pressure on Barkley's team to deliver after doubling down on the playoffs.

Overall, the general sentiment appears to be mostly against the decision made by the Eagles to sit Barkley. It is unknown how much of that is simply fans and analysts wanting to witness history or Barkley coming up short because he failed to perform on the gridiron. Either way, the Eagles have spoken and Barkley will not get the single-season rushing record.