Saquon Barkley’s days have been good since his entry into the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, it would be safer to say that the team’s days have been better with Barkley’s addition in the offseason. Now that the Eagles have earned a playoff spot, there is an underlying stress in the locker room regarding the running back.

According to the reports, Saquon Barkley is on the verge of making history in the league. Yes! The RB is only 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s long-standing single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set back in 1984. Now, given the current situation where Barkley has been fully utilized by the team, it seems completely possible that he will surpass that record.

But the underlying problem here is, if he comes up to make this record, and gets seriously injured, what’s next then? The Eagles are into the playoffs and without Saquon Barkley, it would be difficult for them to move forward. However, former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who on Monday joined Colin Cowherd’s show, has a message for Nick Sirianni and his team. He said, “I believe in Philly. I believe in everything that they’re doing… I think you play fearless, and you play to win not only the game in the end of the season but also to win this record for that team, and for all the Philly, go for it.”

While Colin Cowherd expressed his disagreement on making Saquon Barkley play amidst the persisting injuries in the locker room, Hasselbeck wants the Eagles to play fearlessly. Supporting his statement, the ex-NFLer also gave an example from the past. He drew a parallel between Barkley’s chase for the rushing record and a similar situation Hasselbeck experienced in 2005 with Sean Alexander. He was close to breaking the touchdown record.

Back then, the team had already locked up the number one seed. But the focus shifted to helping Alexander reach his goal. Hasselbeck highlights how important it was for everyone, from the offensive line to the wide receivers, to support this collective effort. He believes Philly should take a similar approach to Barkley. Despite having secured their position, the team should rally around Barkley’s pursuit of the record. So, will Nick Sirianni and the franchise help their player with this? Especially when they are divided in their opinions.

What Nick Sirianni thinks about Saquon Barkley

The Eagles locked into the No. 2 seed after a 41-7 win over the Cowboys in Week 17. And their star player Saquon Barkley is on the verge of history. For now, he has already shattered the Eagles’ records, and hence, the ultimate milestone is within reach. But here’s the dilemma: is it worth the risk?

Head coach Nick Sirianni faces a tough decision. The playoffs are just around the corner. And risking Barkley or key players like Lane Johnson could jeopardize their bigger goals. That of winning the playoffs and Super Bowl. If you ask Johnson, he would say that knowing the toll of late-season injuries, he believes rest is the smarter move. But not everyone agrees with this in the locker room. For instance, Jordan Mailata is all in, calling it a chance to make history that may never come again.

On the other hand, Nick Sirianni is not able to take any decision at the moment, despite Barkley’s wish to play. Nevertheless, the decision goes beyond the locker room. It’s likely that ownership and management will weigh in. Hence balancing the excitement of a potential record with the realities of a deep playoff run. Sirianni understands how rare this opportunity is, but the team’s future comes first. So, it remains to be seen where Saquon Barkley’s ship sails!