Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, two of the best running backs in the NFL, might have a bit of a competition going on between them. Both star for Super Bowl contenders, and both have a habit of filling the stat sheet with ease. But even if there is a rivalry, it doesn't mean they don't appreciate each other's accomplishments.
On Wednesday, The Athletic's Michael Silver revealed how Henry reacted when the Philadelphia Eagles decided to rest Barkley for their regular-season finale in January, ending his chance to break the NFL single-season rushing record.
Silver wrote: "Henry said he was bummed when the Eagles decided to sit Barkley for their otherwise meaningless regular-season finale, depriving the runner of a chance to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record.
Here's what Henry said: "I even wrote him: ‘Are you gonna play?’ He said no, and I was like, 'Awwww — man!' That was the thing; I think we all wanted to see it."
Barkley finished the season with 2,005 rushing yards, 101 short of Dickerson's 1984 record of 2,105 yards in a 16-game season. The Eagles had already secured their playoff position and opted to keep Barkley out of the finale.
It might have been a moment of envy for a fellow star running back, but Henry said that wasn't the case.
"Heck yeah, I was rooting for him," Henry said of Super Bowl Sunday. "I love to see people accomplish their dreams, 'cause it motivates me to do the same thing. I love to see running backs happy. I'm not the guy who's like, 'Oh man, why is he doing this (and not me)?' I love to see it. It fuels me."
Last season, Henry led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns and averaged a career-best 5.9 yards per carry.