One of the highlights of the summer so far, the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up two days of joint practices with the New England Patriots this week.They gained valuable work against a relatively unfamiliar opponent before Saturday's preseason matchup.
If Saquon Barkley had his way, however, there might be a different method for accomplishing the same goal. Speaking with reporters after Thursday's second and final session, he admitted he isn't much of a fan of joint practices. That doesn't mean he believes they are entirely without value. In fact, he acknowledged that there are benefits to stepping away from the familiar faces players have seen every day since training camp opened.
Saquon Barkley sees the benefits, but also the downside
Barkley's issue isn't joint practices as a concept. His issue is the
undisciplined behavior that often occurs once the competitive juices begin to flow.
"I'm the wrong guy to ask because I hate joint practices, to be honest. I think one day is good, but we play in an ego-filled sport with a lot of men."
Again, Barkley's comments weren't a blanket criticism of the practice format. He praised head coach Nick Sirianni's ability to "create chaos in practice during drills" and agreed that there comes a point in camp when teams need fresh competition. He also said going against a different offense or defense can expose weaknesses, test communication, and provide a more realistic evaluation than another practice against teammates.
Barkley even acknowledged there is "a lot of good" that can come from joint practices when both teams approach them the right way. The problem, in his view, is that they don't always stay that way.
"When you do it the right way, it's good, but honestly, more times than not, nothing good comes out of it. When you have the work, it's good, but then, you get the pushing [and] the shoving [and] someone says this about you, and [there's the verbal and physical back and forth]."
Thursday's session offered examples of exactly what Barkley was describing. The Eagles and Patriots certainly tested each other's patience. In a day fueled by key takeaways and emotion, the second joint practice featured several scrums, repeated pushing after plays, and no shortage of trash talk between the two teams.
At one point, coaches reportedly had to calm Barkley during a tense exchange between Philadelphia's offense and New England's defense. Lane Johnson took exception when a Patriots defender brought Barkley to the ground. A brief skirmish followed, and tensions continued to simmer throughout the afternoon as players from both teams exchanged words after the whistle.
The confrontations never escalated into a full-scale brawl, but they repeatedly interrupted practice and served as a reminder of how quickly competitive situations can become personal. One of the more revealing parts of Barkley's answer came when he acknowledged he isn't always an innocent bystander when emotions flare.
"It’s immature when we get to that level. I have to do a better job too because I'm a little troublemaker sometimes."
That self-awareness drew a few laughs, but it also reinforced his larger point. Barkley understands exactly why these incidents happen because he's participated in enough camps to see the pattern repeat itself. The Eagles will almost certainly continue holding joint practices under Sirianni because the football benefits remain significant. Barkley appears to agree with that assessment.
Still, after two days of jawing, scrums, and players testing each other's patience, Foxborough offered plenty of evidence for his argument. Joint practices can provide valuable preparation for the season, but as Barkley sees it, they're often at their best before the emotions become the main event.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Saquon Barkley explains why he's not a fan of joint practices
