Eagles' Saquon Barkley changes offseason approach as he enters his 'prime'

PHILADELPHIA -- There was a time, Philadelphia Eagles moving backmost Saquon Barkley said, erstwhile helium would spot clips of Derrick Henry moving hills oregon Christian McCaffrey moving retired and consciousness compelled to outpouring into enactment to support pace, thinking, "I've got to go."

The competitory quality remains, but the circumstances are antithetic this offseason, with Barkley coming disconnected a run successful which helium shattered his erstwhile precocious successful carries. And truthful helium is alternatively listening to a chorus of confidants -- a radical that includes Eagles coaches, mentors and a mates Hall of Fame backs -- who are advising him to instrumentality a much measured attack to his grooming to let his assemblage to heal.

"You've conscionable got to beryllium smarter, right? You person your moments wherever you spell successful determination and you grind, you propulsion it," Barkley said. "But the bulk of those days is conscionable mobility, conditioning, doing each the things to get your assemblage successful signifier to execute astatine a precocious level. It was a batch of workload [last year], but my assemblage feels great, truthful that's the astir important thing."

Barkley had 1 of the champion seasons for a moving backmost of each clip successful 2024. He rushed for 2,504 yards implicit the regular play and the postseason, breaking the single-season record. The reigning Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year added 499 yards and 5 touchdowns successful the playoffs to assistance Philadelphia seizure its 2nd Lombardi Trophy.

The Eagles leaned connected Barkley rather a spot to substance their offense. He finished the regular play with 345 carries -- 50 much than his erstwhile precocious of 295 acceptable successful 2022 -- and ran the shot 91 much times successful the playoffs.

The earthy interest is whether the effects of that level of usage volition transportation implicit arsenic Barkley enters Year 8.

Barkley, 28, consulted caput manager Nick Sirianni, moving backs manager Jemal Singleton and a brace of erstwhile greats successful Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James, among others, who each had akin proposal for him.

"It wasn't hard due to the fact that everyone I spot told maine fundamentally to beryllium my ass down for a small bit," helium said pursuing the team's lone minicamp signifier past week.

Sirianni noted that each subordinate successful the enactment has an individualized grooming regimen based connected a fig of factors, including subordinate feedback and input from the trainers and spot staff.

"We benignant of monitored everybody arsenic we went," Sirianni said. "We got a batch of bully enactment in, Saquon got a batch of bully enactment successful and yeah, I'm pleased with however the offseason programme has gone."

The upcoming weeks volition beryllium a small antithetic for Barkley arsenic well. He explained that successful erstwhile years helium would effort to travel into grooming campy acceptable for Week 1. This clip around, he'll beryllium conscious not to overdo it during the team's down play and volition let campy to assistance enactment him into due signifier for the commencement of the season.

To this point, the attack seems to beryllium moving for Barkley.

"I consciousness truly good," helium said. "I consciousness similar I'm entering my prime."