Stephen A. Smith Questions Saquon Barkleys Role in Eagles Slump

The Philadelphia Eagles have begun their offseason program without star running back Saquon Barkley in attendance for the voluntary sessions. This has occurred while the team is working to address its offensive performance following the conclusion of the previous season. The situation has drawn public commentary from a prominent media figure.

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Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN commentator, publicly questioned Barkley’s absence on his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” Smith stated he was asking the question “on behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles fan base.” He expressed a desire to know Barkley’s whereabouts during the team’s voluntary workouts.

Saquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in March after spending the first six seasons of his career with the New York Giants. The Eagles’ offense struggled at the end of the last season, including a wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Head coach Nick Sirianni has stated that the team is in the process of “finding solutions” for the offensive unit. The workouts Barkley is missing are officially voluntary, meaning players are not contractually obligated to attend.

Summary

The Philadelphia Eagles are conducting their voluntary offseason program without new running back Saquon Barkley present. His absence has been noted by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who publicly inquired about the player’s location.

Barkley joined the Eagles in free agency on a significant contract after his tenure with the division-rival New York Giants. The team is currently evaluating its offense after a period of late-season struggles.

The sessions are classified as voluntary under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. There has been no official statement from the Eagles or Barkley regarding his non-attendance at these specific workouts.

FAQs

**Why is Saquon Barkley not with the Eagles right now?**
The Eagles’ current offseason workouts are voluntary. Players are not required to attend these sessions under the terms of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. No specific reason for his absence has been provided.

Who is Stephen A. Smith?
Stephen A. Smith is a commentator and television host for ESPN. He made the comments about Barkley’s absence on his own podcast, which is not an official news report from the team.

Did the Eagles recently sign Saquon Barkley?
Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract in March 2024. He previously played for the New York Giants for six seasons.