101. A number that will probably haunt Philadelphia Eagles’ RB Saquon Barkley for the foreseeable future. Though the player has maintained a certain dignity about not being able to eclipse Eric Dickerson’s NFL’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set in 1984, it sure stings—both him and the NFL community. Add to this mix an update from Barkley’s father, Alibay Barkley, and the plot thickens.

On January 3, Barkley’s father turned some heads when he posted an Instagram Story with a location update. “Bellevue Hospital Center,” read the location tag. But why would that be concerning, right? Well, it’s what Alibay did next. Soon after the Story was posted, he deleted it, leaving many speculating about his son’s health—especially when he is set to miss the Week 18 clash against the New York Giants. While the narrative is Barkley and other key starters are resting for the playoffs, the swift deletion sparks suspicion. But is there a concrete reason to be concerned?

We are not sure yet. There’s been no official health updates to be concerned about. Physically, Saquon Barkley is fine. But what about his mental state after losing out on making history?

To sum it up: The 27-year-old is keeping his professional commitment above his personal goals and interests. “When I slept on it, I was like this is an opportunity to implement my name in football history. You may never get an opportunity like that again, so I’m down. But I don’t care (about it) if I’m putting the team at risk. He’s the head coach for the reason. He makes the decisions and whatever decision he wanted to make. If he wanted me to play, I’m gonna go out there and make sure I’d get it. If we don’t, I was OK with that too,” the RB said, as per CBS News.

“At the end of the day, it’s not in God’s plan. He had bigger things in mind. We have a chance to rest and get ready to roll for the playoffs,” he said, while concluding his thoughts. His father, on the other hand, is not mincing any words…

“He definitely wanted me to play. Selfishly for him…our last name would have been attached to that [record]. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win football games. He [my dad] can have his little selfish moment, but he’ll get over it,” the player (who’s currently on a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles) said of his father. And, to be honest, it’s understandable where Alibay’s sentiment comes from. And he’s definitely not alone.

Shady McCoy, a former Eagles star, echoed these thoughts. “How many guys get 2,000 yards twice? Tell me!” McCoy argued. “In 30, 40 years from now, they’re gonna be talking about that. Because that’s how long Eric Dickerson’s record was, it was like 40 years. It’s hard to get a chance.” His frustration underscores the monumental nature of this lost opportunity. But the question is, will the community accept Nick Sirianni’s explanation?

During the press conference where the HC announced the decision, he said, “Obviously, it’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a very great player. It’s a team record that everybody’s involved in. You weigh all those things. But at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for you the team.” Notably, Sirianni had said earlier that he’d consult the staff, the players, the General Manager Howie Roseman, the team’s CEO Jeffrey Lurie before reaching a concrete decision regarding Barkley. During the meeting with reporters, though, he informed that the decision was his.

Adding to the sting, Barkley would have faced his former team, the Giants, whose defense ranks second-worst against the run with a 3-13 record—exactly the opposite of the Eagles, who are on a 13-3 record. The RB’s record-breaking feat seemed achievable within just a half of play. But, with no first-round bye secured, the Eagles aim to keep their key players healthy for the grueling postseason ahead.

Having said that, the decision also reflects an important bit…

Risk vs. reward: How the Barkley call reflects a changing NFL culture

This decision highlights a growing trend in professional sports: “championship-or-bust” culture. Individual milestones, no matter how historic, often take a backseat to the pursuit of team success. For Saquon Barkley, the record might never come within reach again. “It’s the Giants we’re talking about! And we talk about being selfish; I don’t think he’s selfish for wanting to do something that’s never been done before,” McCoy emphasized.

Keeping crucial factors like health, offensive line consistency, and workload, it is very unlikely for Barkley to get a shot at this feat again. But the Eagles, locked into the No. 2 playoff seed, chose long-term health over short-term glory. While strategic, it’s a gamble. Should the team fall short of a Super Bowl, critics will question whether benching Barkley was worth the sacrifice.

Even record-holder Eric Dickerson chimed in with a view many will raise some eyebrows on, admitting, “I don’t think he’ll break it.But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I don’t pull no punches on that. But I’m not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That’s the way I look at it. If he’s fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it’s a great record to have.” As expected, the former Los Angeles Rams player’s admission garnered ample criticism, forcing him to clear his stance.

“I love running backs, I’m a running back. My favorite player was OJ Simpson. I’ve always said OJ did it in 14 games, I did it in 15, one extra game. I would never hate on another running back, that’s not me. If he broke the record, brother, I ain’t going to lose any sleep over that, but am I cheering for someone to break my record? No, I don’t think anybody does. If you have a record and you want somebody to break it, that’s on you. I’m different, I’m old school.”

“I never thought he [Barkley] reached his full potential in New York. I’m glad to see him in Philadelphia. I’m glad to see him get 2,000 yards. So don’t say I’m hating on running backs. If you know your history, look up what I said about OJ. OJ had it in 14, I did it in 15. That’s what I think of the running back position.”

The Eagles now carry the weight of expectation. If they fail to deliver in the playoffs, Sirianni’s decision will haunt them. For Saquon Barkley, though, helping Philadelphia chase a championship might become the legacy that matters most.