With just over a century mark of yards to go for first place, Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley does not appear to be available in Week 18 for a record chase.
However, LeSean McCoy believes it is a travesty for the Eagles to not allow Barkley to chase the all-time single-season rushing record on Sunday versus the New York Giants.
Former Eagle LeSean McCoy Wants Saquon Barkley To Break the Record
Count McCoy as one person who disagrees with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
McCoy believes Barkley should play against his former team on Sunday and attempt to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. The Eagles, who face the division-rival Giants at home, have opted to rest most of their starters to prepare for the playoffs.
Sirianni decided to rest Barkley among others so they are not overworked before the playoffs begin next week. The Eagles will enter the playoffs with the No. 2 seed whether they win or lose on Sunday.
“It’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player,” Sirianni said, via an Eagles team press release. “It’s a team record that everybody is involved in, so you weigh in all those things. But at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for the team.
“Again, when the bye was, how guys are feeling, the bumps and bruises we can take care of. We’ve put ourselves in a position to be able to be in this situation, and our goals are to have success and to play good the next game we play, not only New York but whoever we play after that. … It wasn’t the easiest decision to go through, but we have great people in this building and had a lot of input from a lot of different people, players included.”
Barkley admitted he was initially upset over Sirianni’s decision with the record within reach this. He understands the decision but is not exactly sitting well with it.
“[Sirianni] asked me if I wanted to play, if I wanted to go for it,” Barkley said on Wednesday, via ESPN. “I said, ‘On Sunday, I probably didn’t care too much for it. When I slept on it, it was an opportunity to implant my name in football history, and I may never get an opportunity like that again. So, I’m down. 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 and whatever decision he wanted to make, I let him know if you let me play, I’m going to go out there and make sure I get it. And if I don’t, I am OK with that, too.”
The comforting words were not enough for McCoy. He said Sirianni was being selfish.
.@CutOnDime25 says it would be selfish of the Eagles to not let Saquon Barkley chase the rushing record: pic.twitter.com/vxglutypqw
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) January 1, 2025
“It’s a mistake if you don’t let him chase the record. … You watched how the Giants did Saquon Barkley. See, God don’t make mistakes. We’re playing the Giants, who tried to get rid of my man, who tried to devalue him as a running back? Now he can set the record on you? Everything’s playing out perfectly!” McCoy said.
“Play that game, man. This is bigger than just Saquon Barkley. It’s his record, but this thing has [stood] for 40-something years and nobody has broken this record.”
Barkley enters Week 18 with 2,005 rushing yards, needing 101 yards against the 3-13 Giants to surpass Dickerson’s record of 2,105 set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.