He admits, just a few days before returning to MetLife Stadium to play against his previous team of six seasons, the New York Giants, and in front of fans who adored him during that time, that he is still processing what it all means. Running back Saquon Barkley won't let the moment engulf him, that's for sure, but in the hours leading up to 1 PM on Sunday, it's part of the internal conversation.
"I'm going to treat it the same way I always treat it. I always have the mindset every game – and every game is special; you never know when your last one is going to be," he said Wednesday at his NovaCare Complex locker before practice. "Obviously, there is some history there, for sure. Especially going back there, it will be interesting. I don't have an exact answer – I'll probably have a better answer later in the week.
"It's more of a balance of how I want to attack it. Obviously, I'll be locked in and focused, but I don't want to make it more than what it is. I've done that before and I didn't like the outcome of that. It's going to be a fun environment. It's football, I love being part of something like that, especially being part of the history of these two teams going against each other, especially in this division. It's a big game, so I'm excited for that."
Barkley knows there is going to be some jawing back and forth with some of his former teammates – that, of course, happens in every NFL game – but the element that is new is the reaction from the Giants fans (and, by the way, we KNOW there will be a lot of Eagles fans in the house).
Asked about the fans, Barkley chuckled, knowing what has been said very publicly about how things ended with the Giants, and then he addressed the question.
"I said I didn't expect to get booed, and I was meaning more, like, this rivalry is so much bigger than what happened in the offseason between me and the Giants and 'Hard Knocks' (HBO show). It's been going on for a very long time, so I've been on the other side, so I know how Giants fans feel. I don't know what the environment is going to be like, but I'm excited. As a player, as a competitor, you gotta welcome those environments, those moments.
"Whatever it is, I hope it gives me a little extra juice and I can go out there and perform and help my team win."
Barkley has 483 rushing yards in five games, is averaging 5.2 yards per carry, and has been a standout in every way with four rushing touchdowns, one receiving, and two two-point conversions scored. Had you asked him a year ago, two years ago, about being in this position, he "never expected to be on this side" of an NFC East rivalry that dates back to 1933.
But that's where he is, and this is his moment. One part of the equation that is very, very clear is that he doesn't have any thoughts of being out there to "prove it" to the Giants. He is an Eagle doing Eagles things and helping this team win games.
"I do know my mindset on that: I don't have to prove anything to them. I'm thankful for the opportunity for this organization – Jeffrey (Lurie, Chairman and CEO), Howie (Executive Vice President/General Manager), to everybody getting me here. Those are the people I have to prove it to – my teammates – and at the end of the day, the most important thing is winning, whether I go have 300 yards or if I have 10 yards. As long as we win, I don't really have that big of a pride or ego that if I go out there and ball I'm looking at those guys over there (on Giants sidelines) like, 'Look at what you guys let go.' It's no hate over there, but at the same time, I do know it's a big game, it's an important game, it's a division rival, and I'm going in there, locked in and do the best I can to help us win the game."
