Following a recent incident involving an unruly Eagles fan and subsequent criticism of the Philadelphia fanbase, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has stepped up to defend his team's supporters. This comes after Rams rookie Jared Verse openly expressed his dislike for Eagles fans, a move Barkley deemed unwise, especially considering the upcoming divisional playoff game in Philadelphia.
Barkley, drawing on his past experiences playing against the Eagles as a member of the New York Giants, cautioned against provoking Philadelphia fans, predicting a particularly intense atmosphere for Verse at the upcoming game. He believes Verse's comments will only amplify the already fervent energy of the home crowd.
Eagles defensive back Darius Slay echoed Barkley's sentiments, adding a playful warning about the possibility of snowballs being thrown if the weather permits. Slay acknowledged the longstanding reputation of Eagles fans, suggesting that Verse's comments are unlikely to be the last criticism directed at the Philadelphia faithful.
Verse's criticism follows a viral video showing an Eagles fan, later identified as Ryan Caldwell, verbally harassing a female Packers fan during a recent playoff game. Caldwell has since been fired from his job and issued an apology, while also claiming his actions were provoked and the video lacked context.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) walks from the tunnel for a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) gets pushed out-of-bounds by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images)
Ryan Caldwell was identified as the fan who hurled taunts at a Packers fan. (X/@Basaraski)
The incident involving Caldwell has reignited discussions about the behavior of Eagles fans, a topic with a long and often controversial history. The team's former stadium, Veterans Stadium, even had a court and jail cells to handle fan misconduct.
