Saquon Barkley chosen for cover of Madden 26

[chongli]

From the ESPN article:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45432412/eagles-rb-saquon-barkley-lands-madden-cover-iconic-leap

 

"Barkley has also been named to the Madden 99 Club -- a first for an Eagles offensive player.

 

Starring on the cover of Madden NFL 26 and being named to the Madden NFL '99 Club' are both dreams come true," Barkley said. "I'm grateful to my teammates, coaches and Eagles fans for their support, and I can't wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments in Madden NFL 26."

 

Barkley, the reigning Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, is coming off one of the best seasons for a running back in NFL history. He rushed for 2,504 yards over the regular season and the postseason, breaking the single-season record."

 

 

Edited Monday at 03:22 PM by chongli

[NoSaint]

A high volume running back - it’s like they are welcoming the curse

[Captain Hindsight]

*Bets the eagles under win total*

[skibum]

Can't argue with that. 

[RobbRiddick]

Barkley arriving at next year's NFL Honors 

 

 

 

[Walking Tall]

Deserved. Guy is a stud.

[WotAGuy]

James Cook adding “Cover of Madden” to his list of demands. 

[Gregg]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders win that division this year.

[Fr. Jerk]

Baja lolz city.

 

Homeboy looks like he's got toilet paper hanging out his @ss, ya dig?

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

Now I can’t pick him number 3 in FFL. Oh well 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

3 hours ago, chongli said:

From the ESPN article:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45432412/eagles-rb-saquon-barkley-lands-madden-cover-iconic-leap

 

"Barkley has also been named to the Madden 99 Club -- a first for an Eagles offensive player.

 

Starring on the cover of Madden NFL 26 and being named to the Madden NFL '99 Club' are both dreams come true," Barkley said. "I'm grateful to my teammates, coaches and Eagles fans for their support, and I can't wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments in Madden NFL 26."

 

Barkley, the reigning Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, is coming off one of the best seasons for a running back in NFL history. He rushed for 2,504 yards over the regular season and the postseason, breaking the single-season record."

 

 

Should've been MVP and was in my book. Just like Josh should've been last year.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

12 minutes ago, Gregg said:

I wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders win that division this year.

Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels were incredibly fun to watch last year. Nix gives the AFCW & Mahomes more competition which is never a bad thing. JD gives the NFCE (and NFC as a whole) a much needed great QB. The Eagles have been running through that conference & division. It's not going to be so easy for them in the future.

[Doc Brown]

Poor Joe Schoen.  It's why he should've traded Barkley as soon as he got there to another team with a terrible offensive line.  Who has it worse?  Jets, Giants, or Browns fans.

[Draconator]

 

[Matt_In_NH]

Well deserved...he was amazing.

[Mr. WEO]

With hardly a passing game, teams are going to be tee-ing  off on Barkley and the Eagles this year.

[Jerome007]

2 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

hould've been MVP and was in my book. Just like Josh should've been last year.

Dude is impressive, always has been, and his backwards hurdle was crazy. But the Eagles OLinemen have a LOT to say about how good he was. He wasn't bad or washed with the Giants, just no good OLine for him then. And Josh is no doubt the MVP.

 

[TheWeatherMan]

So he will be the comeback player of the 2026-2027 season…

[HardyBoy]

4 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Poor Joe Schoen.  It's why he should've traded Barkley as soon as he got there to another team with a terrible offensive line.  Who has it worse?  Jets, Giants, or Browns fans.

 

The Giants don't belong anywhere close to that list in my opinion

[hondo in seattle]

5 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Should've been MVP and was in my book. Just like Josh should've been last year.

 

Sure, maybe.  You could make a good argument.  But that offense was loaded.  Hurts had a great year and the receiving corps was one of the best, so it made it challenging for defenses to focus on Barkley (or anyone else).  

 

As for his excellent yardage totals, obviously Barkley played more games that than the all-time greats like Jim Brown, OJ, and Walter Payton.  Additionally, today's defenses are built to defend the pass.  Teams nowadays play nickel (i.e. what used to be called "pass prevent") most of the time and LBs are primarily agile coverage guys not the bestial hunter-killers of the past like Chuck Bednarik, Dick Butkus, and Jack Lambert.  

 

I also think the voters finally realized Josh has been one of the most valuable players in the league for a few years and him not getting the award yet was a travesty.  For me, all things considered, Josh deserved being named MVP.