Saquon Barkley hates joint practices, praises Patriots
Saquon Barkley Eagles Patriots joint practices left the star running back blunt: he hates the format after two days in Foxborough, preferring one day because pushing and shoving often overshadow good work. Still, he said he has nothing but respect for New England and feels the Patriots have a good chance of going very far.
Key Takeaways
- Barkley said he hates joint practices and thinks one day is enough.
- He called football ego-filled and said shoving can turn immature.
- He praised the Patriots, saying they have a good chance of going very far.
- Skirmishes broke out during Eagles-Patriots work; both sides finished healthy.
- The teams meet again in a preseason game Saturday night in Foxborough.
Why did Saquon Barkley say he hates joint practices?
Speaking Thursday after the second day of work at Gillette Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles running back did not soft-pedal his view. "I'm the wrong guy to ask because I hate joint practices, to be honest. I think one day is good," Barkley said, according to ESPN.
He framed the issue as more than fatigue. Barkley said the sport is filled with egos and that productive reps can give way to pushing, shoving, and trash talk. "More times than not nothing good comes out of it," he added, calling that level of sparring immature while joking he can be "a little troublemaker sometimes" — though he said he was "good this week."
What happened between the Eagles and Patriots in Foxborough?
The Saquon Barkley Eagles Patriots sessions were competitive and occasionally heated. ESPN reported Barkley appeared at the center of at least one scrum Thursday, while Eagles tackle Lane Johnson and Patriots linebacker K.J. Britt grabbed each other's face masks. Several skirmishes involved Philadelphia's offense and New England's defense.
"That's bound to happen after Day 2," Barkley said. Boston.com noted a few minor dustups Thursday with nothing serious enough for ejections, and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel helped break up a special-teams fight Wednesday. Both clubs came out of the week without a notable injury.
For the Eagles, the joint work still offered value while installing a new offense under coordinator Sean Mannion. The wide-zone run scheme looked sharp, with Barkley breaking off several long runs, even as Jalen Hurts threw five interceptions over two days. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio offered the opposite take from Barkley, saying he loves joint practices and wished for another one.
Did Barkley think the Patriots can go far?
Yes. After testing New England up close, Barkley left impressed. "I've got nothing but respect for those guys over there, and I feel like they have a good chance of going very far," he said, per Boston.com. The three-time Pro Bowler helped Philadelphia win Super Bowl LIX, so the praise carried weight for a Patriots team talking openly about championship expectations.
New England hosts Philadelphia in a preseason game Saturday night before closing the exhibition slate against the Cleveland Browns. For fans tracking celebrity breaking news around camp, Barkley's dual message was clear: he disliked the joint-practice grind, but he respected what he saw from the Patriots.