Barkley won’t play within the Philadelphia Eagles’ regular-season finale Sunday towards his former staff, the New York Giants, head coach Nick Sirianni introduced, foregoing a possibility to interrupt Corridor of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season speeding file.

“It is a very particular file that is been standing for a really very long time by a terrific participant,” Sirianni stated, by way of staff transcript. “It is a staff file that everyone is concerned in, so that you weigh in all these issues.

“However on the finish of the day, you simply attempt to do what’s greatest for the staff. Once more, when the bye was, how guys are feeling, the bumps and bruises we are able to care for.
We have put ourselves ready to have the ability to be on this scenario. And our targets are to have success and to play good the subsequent recreation we play. Not solely New York, however whoever we play after that. We expect this performs into that.

“It is not simple. It wasn’t the simplest determination to undergo, however we’ve got nice individuals on this constructing and had plenty of enter from plenty of completely different individuals, gamers included.”

Barkley was joyful to run down historical past, however finally understood his coach’s determination and supported it.

“[Sirianni] requested me if I wished to play, if I wished to go for it,” Barkley stated Wednesday, by way of ESPN. “I stated, ‘On Sunday, I in all probability did not care an excessive amount of for it. Once I slept on it, it was a possibility to implant my title in soccer historical past and I could by no means get a possibility like that once more. So, I am down. However on the finish of the day, I do not take care of placing the staff in danger.’

“He is the top coach for a cause. He makes these choices and no matter determination he wished to make, I let him know should you let me play, I will go on the market and ensure I get it. And if I do not, I’m OK with that, too.”

Barkley enters Week 18 with 2,005 speeding yards, needing 101 yards towards the Giants (3-13) to surpass Dickerson’s file of two,105 set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. Dickerson’s mark will stand pat for 40 years (barring Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry working wild, as he’s second within the NFL with 1,783 yards).

Having Barkley sit or play and chase the file with the Eagles (13-3) already locked into the NFC’s No. 2 seed was not a choice taken frivolously. Head coach Sirianni mentioned it with the entrance workplace, his teaching workers and Eagles gamers earlier than Barkley bought the inexperienced gentle to hunt historical past.

Following six seasons in New York, Barkley signed with the Eagles and has change into one in all historical past’s most interesting free-agent acquisitions.

He grew to become simply the ninth participant in NFL historical past to hurry for two,000 yards, conducting the feat in Week 17 towards the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley additionally grew to become the very first 2,000-yard rusher to hit the milestone together with his second NFL staff.

Throughout his time with the Giants, Barkley had his share of harm points and that historical past seemingly performed at the very least an element within the considering of shutting him down. Getting into the ultimate week, Barkley leads the NFL with 345 carries, his 2,005 speeding yards, 125.3 yards per recreation, 378 touches and a pair of,283 scrimmage yards.

He’d already properly surpassed his earlier profession highs in carries (295) and touches (352 twice), so worries about his workload had been obtrusive, particularly because the NFC East champions are hoping to make some noise within the postseason.

In his first recreation taking part in towards the Giants again in Week 7, Barkley was sensational to the tune of 176 yards and a landing on solely 17 carries. Consequently, Sirianni requested Barkley in the course of the 28-3 blowout if the RB wished to stay within the recreation to set a brand new single-game profession excessive. On the time it was 189 yards and Barkley declined. Throughout his outstanding season, Barkley blew previous his earlier recreation excessive with a Week 12 exhibiting of 255 yards.

This time round, Barkley will not be going again in towards the Giants, both, because the onus on him rising unscathed for the Eagles’ playoff run has taken priority over particular person historical past.

“It sort of would have been a full-circle second,” Barkley stated of getting the file towards the Giants, “however on the finish of the day it wasn’t in God’s plan. I’ve bought larger issues in thoughts, and we get an opportunity to relaxation and prepare to roll for the playoffs.”