With the Giants prepping for a crucial clash against the Eagles, the air was thick with tension. Especially when the subject of Saquon Barkley came up. Now donning an Eagles uniform, Barkley’s name still carries weight–and it caught Brian Daboll off guard. When the media turned its spotlight on him, the coach’s response was anything but smooth. Trying to juggle respect for Barkley with his focus on the players still in the locker room. Daboll’s discomfort was palpable. It was clear: anything that wasn’t about preparing for the Eagles wasn’t on his radar. It was clear he wasn’t keen on discussing anything outside of preparing for the next game.

When asked about Barkley’s impact on the locker room and what his absence meant. Daboll responded, “I’m just focused on the guys that are here.” He wasn’t diving into anything uncomfortable and made it clear his focus was strictly on the team that was in the building. While he acknowledged Saquon’s value with respect, Daboll’s main goal was to keep the attention on the game. Barkley, now with the Eagles, wasn’t going to be a factor in the Giants’ prep, especially with key players like Andrew and Carri also being rested.

Then, when the reporter asked about veteran leadership, Daboll gave a short, “Yeah.” He wasn’t about to get deep into it, even with guys like Andrew and Carri expected to step up. His response made it clear he wasn’t going to get caught up in the leadership talk, quickly shifting back to what truly mattered—preparing for the Eagles. Daboll showed no interest in adding any drama to the situation.

This whole back-and-forth showed just how tough it can be to juggle internal team stuff while staying focused on a big game. Daboll’s awkwardness was obvious, but his message was clear: “We’re just getting ready to play the Eagles here and do the best job we can.” It was all about focusing on the task ahead, no matter what was going on behind the scenes. While Daboll dodged questions about Saquon, the RB was kind of upset. But chill about not being in the final game of the season.

Record or rings? A tough choice for Barkley

Nick Sirianni pulled the plug on having his key starters play in Week 18 against the Giants, especially since the game had zero impact on the Eagles’ playoff position. That also meant Saquon Barkley’s chance to break Eric Dickerson‘s single-season rushing record was a no-go. While Barkley was low-key hoping for the shot, he wasn’t mad about the decision. “At the end of the day, I’m okay with it,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on the big picture—the playoffs and going deep.

If Sirianni had given him the green light to play, Saquon Barkley was ready to ball out. With an average of 125.3 rushing yards per game this season, he definitely had the juice to break the record with just 101 yards. But he was chill about it, knowing that resting the starters was what the squad needed for a playoff push. “I’m truly at peace with it,” he said, showing that team success > personal goals.

While Barkley did admit that breaking Dickerson’s record would’ve been a flex, he’s all about that Super Bowl life now. “We didn’t come here and I didn’t sign here to break Eric Dickerson’s record,” he said. “We came here to win a Super Bowl.” He keeps his focus locked on the team’s ultimate goal, proving that chasing trophies beats chasing records.