Saquon Barkley has experienced the love and the hate, knowing firsthand the kind of pᴀssion that exists within Eagles fans.
After Jared Verse took jabs at a fan base he said he hates, Barkley is predicting his team’s supporters will be especially vocal regarding the Rams rookie edge rusher.
“Probably not the smartest thing to say when you’re coming to Philadelphia. I’ve been on the other side, and even if I felt some type of way, probably wouldn’t give them any extra fuel,” Barkley told reporters Friday. “Pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s only going to add to it.”
Sunday’s Eagles-Rams divisional-round battle at Lincoln Financial Field was going to be heated regardless, but perhaps Verse’s comments will add a decibel level or two.
The 24-year-old grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg.
He knows Eagles fans, and he does not like Eagles fans.
“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. “They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”
When the Rams played the Eagles in November in Southern California, Verse said he could hear Eagles fans’ taunts even as he wore headphones.
“I didn’t even do nothing to ’em,” the Pro Bowler told the Times. “It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans.”
Verse did not detail the screams that were hurled his way.
Maybe the nature of the provocations will get more spotlight after an Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell lost his job with a DEI-focused company and was banned from Lincoln Financial Field for screaming at a female Packers fan last weekend, when he repeatedly called the Packers fan a “dumb c–t.”
Caldwell issued an apology in a statement to The Post and said his action were my actions were “not without provocation” that was not seen in the viral video.
