Saquon Barkley makes feelings known on Nick Sirianni taking away Eagles RB's opportunity to create NFL history

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is just 101 rushing yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson's record for most rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson set the record with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. Barkley is on pace to break the record, but Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has other plans.

On Wednesday, Sirianni announced that he would be resting Barkley for their final regular-season game to avoid the risk of him getting injured before the playoffs.

"It's a very special record that's been standing for a very long time by a great player ... But you try to do what's best for the team," Sirianni said. "Our goals are to have success and play good the next game we play."

Saquon Barkley was asked about Sirianni's decision to rest him, and the star RB responded:

“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. He's the head coach for a reason. He makes those decisions."

Chase Daniel defends Saquon Barkley from critics

Some analysts have downplayed Barkley's performances, pointing out that if he had broken the record, it would have been because he had played a game more than Dickerson.

However, former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel came to Barkley's defense Tuesday on "The Facility."

"Saquon Barkely should not play to break a record … but saying that the record won’t matter because he’s played one more game is ridiculous. If he plays, he will break the record with less carries than Dickerson," Chase Daniel said.

He added that Barkley would not just be breaking the record in terms of number of yards, but also in terms of carries.

"Saquon has 345 rushing attempts right now as it stands. So currently, Eric Dickerson has 34 more rushing attempts. So, there's a way. And if he does go out there and break it, that Saquon is going to do it in less attempts than Eric Dickerson," Daniel elaborated.

Prior to his breakout season in Philly, Barkley's best rushing season came in 2022, when he had 1,312 yards in 16 games with the Giants. It remains to be seen whether he can come close to replicating this in the future.