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PHILADELPHIA — The insane overreaction to Saquon Barkley’s signing in free agency with the Eagles was stoked by Tiki Barber, the former Giants running back who as a radio host on WFAN declared “You’re dead to us.”
“Good luck, you’re dead to me,” Barber said.
Barkley didn’t let that slide as he called Barber a fraud and a hater, among other things. On Thursday, Barkley made an amend to Giants fans.
“The Giants fans that were hurt about me leaving I’ve got nothing but love and respect for all those guys and all those ladies,” Barber said. “And just the fans. For the last six years they’ve been great to me and to my family. They’ve created so many memories. I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could have given a proper goodbye. I’ll forever feel great for the Giants fans.”
Barkley also reminded reporters that the NFL was a business.
Not since the days of Tim Tebow’s tryout has an Eagles player arrived with the reputation that preceded him. The Tebow mania was insane for the short while it lasted. The Barkley drama has just begun.
The NFL is investigating whether the Eagles tampered with Barkley during the legal tampering period. Reportedly Eagles G.M. Howie Roseman spoke to Barkley before the start of the new league year.
Barkley said his college coach, James Franklin, misspoke when he mentioned Roseman in a conversation.
“Yeah, Coach Franklin and I, I think he kind of misinterpreted it,” Barkley said. “The truth was that was through my agent and my agent told me that. It happens.”
This may not be the last time Barkley does some explaining. His jersey was always one of the most popular in the league.
When his No. 26 comes out with the Eagles look for it to set records. He’s always been popular. And that’s about to grow because he spent much of his life in Pennsylvania, playing football at Whitehall and Penn State.
“When I put this hoodie on, it’s definitely a little different, and seeing my daughter putting on Philadelphia Eagles stuff, too,” Barkley said. “We’ve been on the worst side of the rivalry for the last couple years, but I’m happy, I’m happy to be a Philadelphia Eagle. I take pride in it. I’m going to take pride in this organization, I’m going to take pride in my community. That’s something I tried my best to do in New York and New Jersey, so I look forward to that and making an impact in my community. I’m excited. Like I said the business side is over, and let’s keep the main thing the main thing and let’s go play football.”
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The Eagles also introduced newly signed pass rusher Bryce Huff on Thursday, who looks every inch and ounce of 6-3, 255 pounds.
Huff had 10 sacks last season in a part-time role with the Jets. He expects to compete for a starting job after signing a three-year contract worth $51.1 million.
Huff will wear the No. 0 jersey with the Eagles, which formerly was the domain of running back D’Andre Swift.
“It’s just a cool number,” Huff said. “A lot of the single digits were already taken up.”
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Like Huff, newly signed linebacker Zack Baun, a three-year veteran of the Saints appreciated the scheme that Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will work with this season.
Fangio plays a 3-4 base defense with a ton of wrinkles in coverage.
“Vic Fangio, what he’s been able to do throughout his career is really unbelievable,” Baun said. “And it fits my skill set, what I’m able to do on the football field.”
Baun (6-3, 225) has played in 62 games with 14 starts, six of those starts coming last year. He signed a one-year deal.
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