‘Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not’: Somebody please remind Eric Dickerson that records are meant to be broken

Will somebody please remind Eric Dickerson that records are meant to be broken?

I’m honestly shocked at the recent comments he made about Saquon Barkley chasing down his NFL single-season rushing record. The lack of grace was staggering.

Eric Dickerson doesn’t want Saquon Barkley to break his rushing record:

Eric Dickerson doesn’t want Saquon Barkley to break his rushing record: https://t.co/qFGnfCdOos pic.twitter.com/87ZHkquL6O

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 27, 2024

Eric Dickerson Q&A with the LA Times is Nasty Stuff:

How do you feel about the possibility of Barkley breaking your single-season rushing record?

I don’t think he’ll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I don’t pull no punches on that. But I’m not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That’s the way I look at it. If he’s fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it’s a great record to have.

So the 17 games part doesn’t bother you, even though you set it with 16 games?

O.J. Simpson was my favorite player. He went over 2,000 yards in 14 games. It took me 15 games to get to 2,000. I had one extra game to play. Getting to 2,000 is an accomplishment in itself. I got close to that three other times.

What do you think of Barkley as a back?

I like him. But I tend to like big backs. He’s not a big back like I was. He’s elusive, he’s tough, he runs hard, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. I think he’s a great player.

I always felt like he’d never reach his potential when he was in New York. You could take Emmitt Smith and put him in Cleveland, and he’d have never been the Emmitt Smith we know now.

Look, I get it—no one wants their name erased from the record books. But Dickerson sounds like the grumpy guy yelling at kids to stay off his lawn. Instead of embracing the excitement of a generational talent chasing history, he’s actively rooting against it.

And for what? To cling to a record that’s nearly 40 years old?

SAQUON BARKLEY JUST BACKWARDS HURDLED OVER A GROWN MAN 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QSV2fP5DoC

— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) November 3, 2024

New Focus: Saquon Barkley destroying Eric Dickerson’s record by any means necessary.

Hand up. I did not care at all about the NFL single-season rushing record until Eric Dickerson wanted to come out and run his mouth about it. Now? I don’t care what the Eagles and Saquon have to do to ensure it happens, but I want that record more than the air I breathe.

It would be even better if Saquon did it in Week 17 against the Cowboys. We have Kenny Two Gloves under center while Hurts is still in concussion protocol and technically, it would be a record-breaking performance in the same amount of games as Dickerson.

That way, we don’t have to hear this grumpy old man complaining that Saquon did it in Week 18 against the Giants and how it “shouldn’t count”. 

Ah, Eric Dickerson tends to like bigger backs? Okay….lol

Saquon Barkley TRUCK STICK pic.twitter.com/5EthRbqiZi

— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) October 20, 2024

Again, somebody please remind Eric Dickerson that records are meant to be broken. That’s the entire point of sports. Achievements inspire the next generation, and when someone finally surpasses a record, it elevates the game as a whole.

Instead of embracing this, Eric Dickerson sounds like the bitter guy at a family dinner who just can’t stand seeing someone else get attention.

He had his time in the spotlight, and rightfully so—his 2,105 yards in 1984 is an incredible feat. But greatness isn’t diminished when someone else achieves it.

In fact, it grows.

If Eric Dickerson had any respect for the game or himself, he’d be encouraging Saquon Barkley. He’d recognize that Saquon’s potential to break his record only reinforces the standard he set. Instead, he’s out here acting like a sore loser before Barkley has even crossed the finish line.

What’s worse is that this attitude doesn’t just reflect poorly on Dickerson—it tarnishes the legacy of his record. Instead of being remembered as a milestone of greatness, it’s now tied to his petty refusal to pass the torch.

Let’s not forget that Saquon Barkley isn’t some random player chasing the record. He’s one of the most talented and hardworking backs of this generation, dragging the Eagles’ offense on his back while dealing with injuries and challenges all season.

Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ rushing attack are rewriting NFL History >>

And if he breaks the record, Saquon will do it the right way—with class and determination, even in the face of Dickerson’s jealous comments.

Eric Dickerson had a chance to show respect for the game and the players who followed in his footsteps. Instead, he chose bitterness and now Saquon Barkley and the Eagles should destroy him by breaking the record.

If you can’t celebrate the evolution of the game, maybe it’s time to stop talking about it altogether, Eric.

Saquon Barkley doesn’t need your approval. When Barkley smashes that record—and I hope he does—it’ll be a moment of triumph for football, not for petty gatekeeping.

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