Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis crowns 'prototype' Saquon Barkley as the 'best running back' in NFL

NEW ORLEANS – Jerome Bettis mightiness cognize a happening oregon 2 astir occurrence successful the backfield.

A two-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl moving back, and Super Bowl champion, Bettis was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 2015.

Saquon Barkley is present good connected his mode to a golden overgarment himself aft becoming the ninth subordinate to unreserved for 2,000 yards successful a azygous season, and due to the fact that of that historical performance, Bettis said nary 1 is up of Barkley astatine the moment.

"I deliberation Saquon Barkley is the champion moving backmost successful the NFL close now. He’s special," Bettis said successful a caller interrogation with Fox News Digital. "He tin bash everything that you privation a moving backmost to bash – drawback it successful the backfield, drawback it deep, drawback it successful the flat, tally for a archetypal down, tally for power, helium tin interruption it anyplace connected the field. This feline is the eventual moving back. 

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Philadelphia Eagles moving backmost Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the shot for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the archetypal fractional successful the NFC Championship crippled astatine Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

"He’s the prototype – if you gully up what a moving backmost should be, it’s Saquon Barkley."

Barkley, of course, was drafted 2nd wide by the New York Giants successful 2018. After spending six seasons there, the caller authorities opted to fto him go, and it's been a nightmare for Big Blue ever since.

To hitch brackish successful the wound, Barkley volition present suit up for the Birds successful the Super Bowl connected Sunday.

The large crippled was erstwhile "bittersweet" for "The Bus" Shortly aft winning his title, helium mislaid his begetter astatine the property of 61 to a bosom attack. Perhaps possibly the champion infinitesimal of his beingness was astir instantly followed by the worst, but Bettis is present capable to afloat "understand the value of this game" and instrumentality it each in.

So, Bettis, similar Barkley, is successful New Orleans this twelvemonth to dispersed consciousness astir bosom health, teaming up with the CDC Foundation's "Live to the Beat" campaign successful efforts to support radical from a beingness chopped abbreviated similar his dad.

Running backmost Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the shot against the Denver Broncos during the 1997 play AFC Championship crippled astatine Three Rivers Stadium connected January 11, 1998 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

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"The full thought is to get radical to recognize and spot that bosom wellness is important, and they tin bash tiny things to alteration what that bosom wellness volition beryllium successful the future," helium said. "The prime of life, everything that goes with it. Small changes to your diet, taking a small spot of sweetener retired of that diet, moving out, going for a locomotion connected a regular basis, conscionable tiny things that tin truly promote bosom health. 

"Looking astatine my mortality, I‘m 52, truthful I’m saying to myself I've got to marque definite I’m doing immoderate of those things that helps maine truthful that I’m not a unfortunate of a bosom onslaught oregon precocious humor pressure, a stroke, those benignant of issues that travel with mediocre bosom health. I’m making definite radical perceive my story, and possibly they’re inspired to marque a change."

NFL players don't spell into the Hall of Fame representing a squad similar shot players do, but if that were the case, it would beryllium hard to reason that Barkley wouldn't person an Eagles helmet if they triumph this title, Bettis said.

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"He’s done thing nary Eagle has ever done, tally for 2,000 yards, and has a accidental to springiness them different championship. He would beryllium cemented successful the bequest of the Philadelphia Eagles," helium said. "If you speech astir the past of the Eagles, you cannot not notation Saquon Barkley."

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