Eagles' Saquon Barkley: Players 'Lying' If They Say They're Not Motivated by Critics

Saquon Barkley admitted on Monday that he is motivated by his critics, and believes most—if not all—professional athletes are similar.

"Anyone that tells you that you don't get motivation from naysayers is lying," Barkley told EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "You see everything. Even if you block it out, you make stuff up in your head. The motivation comes from me wanting to be great, having a purpose, being passionate about the game, and wanting to win championships and become a Hall of Fame player."

"Right now in my career, I'm far from that," he continued. "But I feel like if I finish my second [half of] my career strong, I'm going to be able to put my name in that book."

Many of those critical voices in the present are likely coming from the direction of New York, where scorned Giants fans aren't happy that Barkley left the team as a free agent and joined the rival Philadelphia Eagles. That adds a level of spice to the NFC East showdown, though the stacked Birds will likely be the favorites in both matchups.

If Barkley can stay healthy, he has the potential to put up huge numbers. He'll be motivated, at least in part, by the people who don't believe he'll be highly productive in Philly.