Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: Any thoughts about summing up the season?
A: Obviously, the season didn't go the way that we wanted. I just want to give credit to a lot guys in the locker room, especially guys that had to step up and play a different role that was probably not expected in the beginning of the year. Those guys in the locker room came to work every single day, worked their tails off and, obviously, the result wasn't what we wanted it to be. Really proud of those guys in the locker room.
Q: What has to change so that you don't walk off the field at the end of next season with the same feeling of disappointment?
A: I really don't believe on speaking off emotions. I like to sit down, digest and think about it before I just go out there and answer. I think I can answer that question better in a week or two for you.
Q: How would you feel if a coaching change was made?
A: That's above me. I don't make those decisions. I spoke in the past how I feel about (Head Coach Joe) Judge. I think a lot of guys came out on the team and spoke how they feel about Judge. So, I'm going to leave it at that.
Q: What message did it send to the offense when on third-and-9 you're running a quarterback sneak?
A: As an offense, you've got to just go up there and execute the play that's called. We just went out there and tried to do our job.
Q: Did it bother you as one of the guys who could make a play there that they didn't even try something with one of you?
A: No, like I said, as an offense, it's our job to go out there and execute the plays and that's the play that was called. We don't make those decisions. There's a reason why that play is called. We just try to execute it as best we can.
Q: What do you as players think since there's likely going to be significant changes here whether it's a different general manager, coach, players coming out of the season and going into next year?
A: I don't know. That's above me. I get paid to come here and run a football and be a football player. I don't make those decisions, so I don't know all those decisions, all those kinds of hypothetical situations that we're talking about that I can't give you guys an honest answer about. Like I said, obviously the season didn't go the way we would like it, but we have a lot of guys in the locker room that stepped up and played big roles for us and worked our butts off all year.
Q: You said that you don't want to let your emotions speak, but with all that you went through and to get back on the field and have this type of season, does it hurt?
A: Does it hurt? I don't know if I'd use that word. Obviously, I probably expected a better season for myself. Just as an individual, you want to be better for your team, you want to be better. It just didn't go that way. Had a little bit more adversity and little stuff down the road that kind of set me off. The results may not have been what I wanted them to be, but I had to endure the process and go through the process and fight through that. I know that that's going to make me a better player in the future. I know you guys are going to have your opinions. Everyone's going to have their opinions about the season I had, but like I said, I know the type of player I am, the type of player I'm going to be, I know the work ethic that I'm going to have in this offseason and get my body back into the shape that I need it to be in the position I need to be to go out there and be the player that I know I am.
Q: I know you don't like using this excuse, but now that the season is over, what were you dealing with your ankle and how much was that something that held you back somewhat?
A: It doesn't matter. Everyone's dealing with something. Everyone's banged up, it's the National Football League, Week 18. Some people are going to the playoffs and playing hopefully three or four more weeks, whatever team ends up doing that. So, can't look at it like that. Yes, my ankle was a little setback, it was, but it is what it is.
Q: Does it need to be addressed this offseason?
A: No, nothing that I think that needs to be addressed. I don't believe that at all. Just something that, like you said, time. Sometimes your body just needs time to relax and breath and when stuff like that happens through the NFL season, you don't really get that time. That's what it is.
Q: Injury wise, are you going to or are you already re-evaluating how you train in the offseason to stay healthy? Or is football just football and injuries happen?
A: I mean, go back to the basics. I could train a little different this offseason than I did last season just with rehabbing. You're rehabbing a whole new reconstruction, so that's different training, so I don't have to do that training. I'm not going to change my training, I'm going to get back to hitting the weights, hitting heavy, being explosive, getting back to the type of running regimen that I like to do and get myself ready for season.
Q: How much time are you going to take off?
A: That's a good question. I told the trainers one week and they laughed at me and told me I needed to take a little bit more time than that, so. Just got to trust the trainers, we have an unbelievable strength staff here and unbelievable trainers outside the building that I work with personally. Probably this week, going to sit down and develop a game plan about what I'm going to do to get my body right.
Q: (Defensive Back) Logan Ryan talked about the team faced a lot of adversity this season, you talked about adversity. With what you saw with a lot of younger players, are you happy with the way that they dealt with it?
A: Yeah, very happy. If you're going to find a silver lining or something within this season is the way that these guys responded. Banged up, having to step up no matter what, win, loss, draw. That Wednesday, that Thursday, that Friday was the same. That's all you can ask from the guys. As a leader, as being part of the team, that's all you can ask for those guys. The results weren't the way we wanted it to be, but tip my hats off to a lot of those guys whether it's young guys like, not necessarily young, but stepping up, a (Wide Receiver) David Sills (V) or a (Wide Receiver Alex) Bachman, or it's superstars like (Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams) Leo who's going through adversity too and still out there fighting every single day throughout practice and trying his best to get the job done. That's all you can ask for and like I said, I think I said earlier in the week, the results weren't what we wanted it to be this season, but that's the type of people you want in your locker room that's going to help in the future and is going help us get to where we need to get. It's guys that care about each other, guys that care about winning and guys that care about going through the process to get the results right.