I love it when people are honest! Eric Dickerson is inarguably one of the greatest running backs to ever “tote the rock”, but when it comes to his 30-year-old single-season rushing record, let’s just say he’s not handing over the crown without a fight. Saquon Barkley is charging toward history, needing 268 yards in the final two weeks of the season to break Dickerson’s legendary 2,105-yard mark set in 1984. But in a classic E.D. move that can only be described as “petty in the best way,” Dickerson isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for Barkley to pass him.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dickerson didn’t mince words: “Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not,” he said. “I don’t pull no punches on that. But I’m not whining about it.” Nope, no tears here—just a dash of pride and a whole lot of shade. LOL! Man, you have to love that honesty. Dickerson’s not crying about it, but you can almost hear him silently crossing his fingers and rolling his eyes every time Barkley touches the ball.
Of course, the 1984 NFL season was only 16 games, while the current season is 17, and Dickerson’s quick to remind us that he’s aware of the extra game. “I don’t think he’ll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it,” he said, casually throwing a little “we’ll see about that” energy into the mix.
Look, we get it. Eric Dickerson has held that record for three decades, and he’s earned the right to be a little petty about it. And honestly, we kind of love it. So, here’s to hoping Saquon gets those 268 yards—just so we can watch Dickerson’s reaction when his record finally meets its match. After all, what’s sports without a little drama, pettiness, and a dash of historic rivalry?