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As Philadelphia Eagle fans face national scrutiny after viral video one verbally assaulting woman, star running back Saquon Barkley came to their defense.
With the Eagles set to face the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs on Sunday, Rams player Jared Verse expressed his hatred for Eagles fans in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Verse’s comments come days after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell was fired from his job when a video of him insulting a Green Bay Packers cheerleader at a playoff game last Sunday went viral.
“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said. “They are so boring. I hate Eagles fans.”
Barkley was asked by reporters about Verse’s comments before the game, and he suggested the Rams rookie’s decision to say those things “wasn’t smart.”
“It’s probably not the smartest thing to say if you’re coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters Friday.
Barkley cited his previous experience coming to Philadelphia to play as a tackle while with the New York Giants from 2018-23.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) emerges from the tunnel for the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
“I was on the other side, I felt some way,” Barkley said. “I probably wouldn’t give them extra fuel.”
Barkley expects Verse to get a particularly rude greeting when he takes the field on Sunday.
“I’m pretty sure Philly fans saw that comment. It was already loud and rocking, so it’s just going to add to that,” Barkley said.
Eagles defensive back Darius Slay also weighed in on Verse’s comments and warned that snow in the forecast could result in fan stampedes.
“He’s not the first person to hate Eagles fans. There’s a lot of people who don’t like Eagles fans. Some people who played for the Eagles don’t like Eagles fans,” Slay told Fridata reporters. “It just comes with the sport.
“I think Eagles fans are passionate regardless [don’t] have to say one more word. And if it’s snowing outside, I won’t be surprised if snowballs are thrown on the sideline.”
Verse is just one of the harshly vocal critics of Eagles fans following the viral Caldwell tape. Verse said that even though the game was in Los Angeles, he could hear Eagles fans booing, despite wearing headphones.
“I didn’t even do anything to them. It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said.
The Eagles won that game 37-20, and Barkley went on a rampage, racking up 302 yards rushing, including 255 rushing yards with two touchdowns.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled off the field by Los Angeles Rams tight end Jared Verse (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Alex Gallardo-Imagn images)
Meanwhile, Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after the video of him the insults went viral. He apologized but also defended himself, insisting that his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “doesn’t show the full context” of what happened.
“While I was at an NFL game last Sunday to cheer on my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement.
“What started as banter with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated into something more serious, and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose unforgivable words to address one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller .
“I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, to my wife, family and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the city of Philadelphia and anyone who was offended.. However, there are two sides to every story .
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Ryan Caldwell has been identified as the fan who taunted a Packers fan. (X/@Basaraski)
“The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what happened, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I am certainly paying a personal price. For those who do not know me, this incident does not reflect my values or respect that I have towards others and does not indicate the person I am.”
The viral video was shot by Keller’s fiance, Alexander Basara, and quickly spread across the Internet in the days following the Eagles’ 22-10 victory.
Caldwell’s apology and news of his firing sparked a wave of celebration and jeers from sports fans on social media.
Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior.
The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had a courthouse and jail cells to deal with law-breaking fans.
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