Eagles’ Saquon Barkley had complaint after joyful comeback against Giants

Saquon Barkley was in a good mood Sunday afternoon and for good reason. Upon his return to MetLife Stadium, he rushed for 176 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown in the Eagles’ 28-3 rout of the Giants.

It was the second highest total of his career and the fact that it came against his former team on a day when he was being booed and ridiculed relentlessly by fans who adored him only added to the joy of it all.

There was one thing that put a damper on it all for Barkley, though.

On Saturday, the NFL announced that the running back was fined $45,020 for lowering his head during a game. a week 6 against the Cleveland Browns.

“Oh, it’s crazy,” Barkley said. “I have to appeal.”

Barkley explained that he thought what happened was inevitable given how the play unfolded.

After bouncing off an attempted tackle by Cleveland’s Ogbo Okoronkwo, Barkley lowered his head as he was confronted by Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. Players lowering their heads has been a focus this season by the NFL rules committee and the league enforces it by issuing fines.

“On this particular play, I came out of a run and in front of me is a 300-pound defensive lineman,” Barkley said. “It wasn’t even me trying to crush him. It was more about preparing myself and getting ready for contact. Do I get fined if he picks me up and hits me in the head and I do the same thing? I don’t think so. I was just able to get off and keep moving.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was fined the same amount earlier this season. Jacobs was also fined less for the same offense and was threatened with a suspension by the NFL if he didn’t stop lowering his head. Jacobs appealed one of his fines and won. He also informed the NFL that the rule went too far.

In a post about »

Barkley agreed.

“They’re being too finicky about it,” the Eagles running back said. “That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t want to say too much because, like I said, I still have one appeal and I want to give myself a chance without having to pay the $45,000.

Cleveland linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was fined $20,900 for lowering his head during a second-quarter tackle by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts last Sunday.

Neither Barkley’s head drop nor Owusu-Koramoah’s hits were called out in the Eagles’ 20-16 win over the Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

Please count on us to provide you with the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Bob Brookover can be contacted at [email protected]