Eagles RB Saquon Barkley admits he's motivated to prove naysayers wrong

The Eagles are just eight days from reporting to the NovaCare Complex for the fourth training camp under current head coach Nick Sirianni. Saquon Barkley has always been a diligent worker, and the seventh-year veteran will enter 2024 with added motivation after being doubted by the Giants, media members, and some pundits alike.

Barkley has spent the off-season and most of the summer training for a critical preseason and told E.J. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he’s focused on “turning negative interactions into positives” while “proving the naysayers wrong.”

“Anyone that tells you that you don’t get motivation from naysayers is lying,” Barkley told Smith. “You see everything. Even if you block it out, you make stuff up in your head. The motivation comes from me wanting to be great, having a purpose, being passionate about the game, and wanting to win championships and become a Hall of Fame player.

“Right now in my career, I’m far from that. But I feel like if I finish my second [half of] my career strong, I’m going to be able to put my name in that book.”

Barkley has rushed for 5,211 yards with 35 touchdowns and caught 288 passes for 2,100 yards with 16 touchdowns in 74 career games after being drafted out of Penn State. Playing with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Jalen Hurts, Barkley should improve on the 962 yards rushing with six touchdowns, and 41 catches for 280 yards with four scores.