15 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Barkley was an extremely popular player in the Giants locker room, just like he is in Philly.  Players aren’t going to try to injure one of their friends because their crappy owner or GM wishes it.

Far more likely their players would line up to shake his hand if he set the record.

The cheap shots don't necessarily have to go against Barkley.  We would have to have the entire starting OL out there as well.  Also, hard hits with emotion don't have to be cheap shots to cause injury.

13 minutes ago, aptosbird said:

My issue with letting Barkley play is that the starting OL would also have as well as Brown/Smith. Sending him out with just backups would just be a recipe for disaster.

The whole offense would be affected.

First, no way Lane or Dickerson would play. You'd be starting Steen at LG, Fred Johnson at RT. So your OL would be missing 2 studs.

Then, you have to decide what to do with Hurts, AJ, and Devonta. Sit them, the run game gets harder.

So you'd be missing some guys, risking others (including multiple guys who've been banged up already this year) in addition to risking a superstar RB who already has 378 touches this year and has had serious injuries in the past.

Not to mention, what to do with the defense. So we start 1s on offense, 2s on defense?

It makes no sense outside of "Dang that'd be cool to see in the history books."

18 minutes ago, just relax said:

Thank you for mentioning the likelihood of injury. I therefore rest my case and hopefully Saquon next week.

 Would add, churlishly, that there are so many asterisks on the rushing record that it has minimal value, at least for me. For example, in two more games, Saquon has outrushed OJ by two whole yards.

Unfortunately for OJ - OJ decided to "OJ” his ex wife.

And although that usually doesn’t matter when it comes to stats - it matters in reality.  

So OJ will be remembered for what he did to his ex wife.  That is the reality of life. 
 

That said, statistically his record is better at 6 ypc @ 2k+ yards than any other record.

 

Good news is that Saquon isn’t going to "OJ” anyone so his record will stand.  
 

Yes, character - at the most basic level - counts.

Don’t kill people.  Especially your ex wife and the mother of your children. 
 

8 minutes ago, Grump99 said:

With all due respect, Goedert has only played in nine games this season.  Considering Barkley has >2000 yards in sixteen games, I'd say his contribution to our run game is mediocre at best.  You can't run block if you don't see the field.  Ertz has only missed one game by comparison.

Doesn’t change the fact that he’s a dreadful blocker. Even Calcaterra’s better.

3 minutes ago, just relax said:

Even Calcaterra’s better.

Oh my, that's bad

39 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

The most interesting part of this is the Hurts situation.   If he's cleared, do they want to get him back into a game for a little work before the playoffs?  Or do they roll him straight to the starting line of the playoffs coming off a concussion and not playing for 2 and a half games?

And if Hurts plays for a portion of the game, you can be sure that the starting OL and Barkley will play at least that portion of the game.

 

Then the question becomes, do you make Pickett the #3 QB to let his ribs heal more, and use McKee as the backup to come in and get the rest of the reps?  

I wouldn't play Hurts. I wouldn't play Pickett. I would sit every starter if it can be done. I would run the 2s and 3s and run a full game plan though so they get some work in. It's a gift. Milk it for all it is worth.     

16 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

That wasn't an illegal tackle at the time.  And I really don't think there was anything sinister in that tackle other than it was the only way he was going to bring him down.

Yep, the horse collar rule was voted in as a penalty in 2005, however of the 6 injuries caused by the tackle in 2004 Williams was responsible for 4 of them.

I agree with you regarding the intent to injure though. In general I don't think the majority of players are out to injure anyone on purpose. Are there a couple of heated/hated match-ups between players that it might happen? Maybe. Football is a lot different than it was 30 plus years ago. These guys are all in the players union and are all looking to take care of each other on the field and off while still playing a competitve game. A lot of die hard older football fans dislike when their team loses but the players are all on the field laughing and cutting up giving hugs, trading jerseys, etc., at the end of the day they are all co-workers really. Gone are the days of Conrad Dobler and Dick Butkus, those were some mean nasty dirty players, and there are several more from that era...

1 hour ago, vikas83 said:

Typing this makes me ill, but...Nick Wright just made a good point. Going for the record, playing the starters, could backfire in 2 ways. First, someone gets hurt. That we all know, and you'd need the full complement of starters out there, so you're not just risking Barkley. But another potential outcome is -- they go for it and don't get it. And lose to the Giants with the starters. How much does that dent the team's confidence and aura going into the playoffs?

I was already 100% on board with resting everyone, but this conversation has been people assuming he'll get the 101 yards. The Giants might put 10 in the box; hell, given the potential embarrassment to that organization, Joe Schoen will demand it. Going for it, not getting it and losing to a terrible Giants team could derail the whole locker room.

Just sit everyone down.

Another perspective. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4058551/2023/01/07/nfl-playoffs-rest-starters-madden-coughlin-brady/

21 minutes ago, just relax said:

Doesn’t change the fact that he’s a dreadful blocker. Even Calcaterra’s better.

That's fair.  I would take a young Celek over both of them.

57 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Speaking of France, I’m headed to Paris for New Year’s Eve tomorrow.  🎉

 

That said, stop being scared - no one wins championships by letting fear take over. 
 

Focus on these words:  

Fear only creates anxiety and woes.  
 

True confidence and determination will create an undying belief that naturally leads to success. 

 

New Years are great in foreign countries or just being away....was in South Beach for the Millennium,  was in Aruba one year...but last year was in Cabo.  Good times and Paris is my favorite city (been all over).  

18 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

That said, statistically his record is better at 6 ypc @ 2k+ yards than any other record.

I see it like you do. The reality is a lot of people will see the record and immediately point to the fact that it was over 17 games vs 16 or 14. The same happens to E. Smith, Jim Brown didn't have as many opportunities in a regular season and playoffs to gain those yards, if he had Emmitt isn't the career leading rusher. The fact is Saquon has nothing to prove, if I were an Eagle fan I would love for him to get the record, but I would also be ok with him not getting it. Everyone who knows the game knows that he has put together the best rb performance in many many years and is by far the best rb in the league right now.

8 minutes ago, Next_Up said:

Another perspective. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4058551/2023/01/07/nfl-playoffs-rest-starters-madden-coughlin-brady/

Not paying...what's the gist?!?!

5 minutes ago, Grump99 said:

That's fair.  I would take a young Celek over both of them.

😍. 

That Missouri kicker is going to be an NFL kicker in a couple of years...heck of a leg for a freshman.

43 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

The cheap shots don't necessarily have to go against Barkley.  We would have to have the entire starting OL out there as well.  Also, hard hits with emotion don't have to be cheap shots to cause injury.

Jealous people with nothing to lose who don't want to be remembered for giving up the record = trouble 

1 hour ago, Iggles_Phan said:

So ironic given your current alignment with Nick Wright.   

Ok. That was epic. Well done. 

If anyone is watching the Music City Bowl go back and watch #6 reaction on the sideline after the Missouri placekicker just nailed another long FG to take the lead with 4 min left...hysterical that they even aired that...

1 hour ago, just relax said:

Of that there is no doubt.

Meh. I thought OJ was a pretty good dude. Just got a bad rep. 

 

1 hour ago, just relax said:

Thank you for mentioning the likelihood of injury. I therefore rest my case and hopefully Saquon next week.

 Would add, churlishly, that there are so many asterisks on the rushing record that it has minimal value, at least for me. For example, in two more games, Saquon has outrushed OJ by two whole yards.

He only has about a dozen more carries than OJ, though. So OJ rushed more often per game.

1 hour ago, Joe Ball said:

I see it like you do. The reality is a lot of people will see the record and immediately point to the fact that it was over 17 games vs 16 or 14. The same happens to E. Smith, Jim Brown didn't have as many opportunities in a regular season and playoffs to gain those yards, if he had Emmitt isn't the career leading rusher. The fact is Saquon has nothing to prove, if I were an Eagle fan I would love for him to get the record, but I would also be ok with him not getting it. Everyone who knows the game knows that he has put together the best rb performance in many many years and is by far the best rb in the league right now.

That’s a fair statement.  Especially for a Cowboys fan. 

The best is the best.

1 hour ago, NYEagle said:

Not paying...what's the gist?!?!

Rest starters for NFL playoffs? Why John Madden, Tom Coughlin, Tom Brady hate the idea

John Madden is still alive?

3 hours ago, NOTW said:

People have also made the argument about the pendulum swing back and forth about RBs. The league moved away from drafting them high in the 1st round and not paying them. Barkley and Henry are the top 2 RBs and they signed with new teams this year. We've seen how a good run game can eat clock and prevent the other team from an opportunity. 

There are even teams bringing back the fullback position in packages. It will be interesting to see how things progress.

The era of the QB is over now too and the NFL as a whole is having a pretty big dip in quality of play.  7 QB’s will break 4k this year…7!  Maybe 8 or 9 if there’s a miracle.  One of those is 17/15 currently TD/INT and another is named Sam Darnold.  A RB is a legit MVP candidate (mainly because the CInci D can’t get out of their own way).

Rushing stats certainly aren’t overinflated this year overall either minus Saquon and Henry.

Tbh they probably could’ve called 3 guys on Minnesota offsides on this FG along with the packers player