Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has come to the defense of Eagles fans, who have faced national scrutiny following a viral video of one fan verbally assaulting a woman. The incident occurred at a playoff game last Sunday, and the fan, Ryan Caldwell, was subsequently fired from his job.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Rams player Jared Verse expressed his hatred for Eagles fans, saying “I hate Eagles fans. They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.” Barkley, who has played against the Eagles as a member of the New York Giants, called Verse’s comments “not smart” and suggested that they would only add to the already loud and rowdy atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field.
Barkley also expects Verse to receive a rude welcome when he takes the field on Sunday, saying “I’m pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s just only going to add to it.”
Eagles defensive back Darius Slay also weighed in on Verse’s comments, saying that the team’s fans are fired up regardless and that snow in the forecast could result in fans throwing snowballs. Slay also noted that Verse is not the first person to dislike Eagles fans, and that it comes with the territory of playing in Philadelphia.
Caldwell, the fan who was fired, has apologized for his actions and defended himself by saying that the viral video does not show the full context of what happened. He also claimed that his actions were not without provocation and that he will live with the consequences of his actions.
The incident has sparked a wave of celebration and mockery by sports fans on social media, with many calling for Eagles fans to be held accountable for their behavior.