NEW ORLEANS -- Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, reflecting on the offseason signing of Saquon Barkley, said he is not surprised by the star back's historic season.
"[He has been a] huge, huge player and person for this team. And [signing him was] not a hard trigger to pull. I think I'm being consistent with what I said in March -- was extremely confident in the player and the person," he said.
"I'd like to say he's exceeded expectations, but he's always been one of the best players I've ever seen whenever I've watched him and I have always known about what kind of person he is because it's not hard to find that out. So I'm really not surprised by any of this, and I don't say that in an arrogant way, it's based on who he is, nothing to do with me, because this is who he's always been. And I'm just glad everyone gets to see that."
Barkley became a free agent this offseason after six seasons with the New York Giants, and the Eagles pounced, signing the former No. 2 pick out of Penn State to a three-year, $38 million deal. The move seemed a bit out of character for Philadelphia at the time given its general hesitancy to sign running backs to lucrative contracts, but the front office believed Barkley was a unique talent who could affect the game as a runner, receiver and pass protector.
Barkley proceeded to put together one of the best seasons of all time. He became the ninth player to reach 2,000 rushing yards and finished just 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105) after the Eagles opted to rest their starters in the regular-season finale against the Giants. Barkley needs just 30 yards to surpass Terrell Davis (2,476) for most rushing yards in a single season, including playoffs.
Barkley has been the most notable addition to the roster since the Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.
Roseman has been hard at work, in the two years since, to try to get Philadelphia over the hump. The Eagles and Chiefs will square off in the Super Bowl rematch on Sunday.
"They're the best of the best. ...First you've got to think about your division, then you've got to think about your conference, then you've got to think about how you're winning a world championship. I used to, before everything got automated, have the final four teams in my office. And I used to, some days, look and I'd go, how do we compare there? Now I think it's like in my head, you know, the Chiefs are in my head," Roseman joked.
"But I think you have to think about how to beat the best. It's hard. It's really hard, as you're putting something together."
Roseman got his start in Philadelphia when coach Andy Reid was the head man with the Eagles, and noted most weeks he can call Reid and have honest conversations on just about anything. That obviously won't be the case this week.
"When I'm talking to him, I'm not necessarily thinking, hey, you know, I'm thinking about this move to try to beat you finally in the Super Bowl," Roseman said. "But obviously, they're the standard."