Barkley Is All Business
By Marc Farzetta
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Michael Vick and Nick Foles may be the only two quarterbacks being mentioned with regularity during this training camp, but rookie Matt Barkley is stating his case to be in the discussion.
The 22-year-old signal caller may be just a rookie, but he was talking the talk when he joined Anthony Gargano and Rob Ellis Thursday afternoon on WIP. Barkley said he has to have the mindset of a starting quarterback to compete with Vick and Foles.
"Chip wants us to think that way and you have to think that way," Barkley said with confidence. "I don't think Philly would like it if I came in and said 'oh I don't want to play.' I feel that would be meek and I wouldn't be ready for a challenge."
Barkley has said throughout offseason workouts that he is very much in the race to be named the starter and that he has an advantage because Chip Kelly selected him, but inherited Foles and Vick.
Barkley went on to tell Anthony and Rob he likes his teammates and respects them, but everyone understands the challenge at hand.
"I've learned not to be sympathetic about anything, I mean this is a job," he said. "I think your goal has to be to beat everyone out else and you have to be in a sense ruthless about your job and protecting what's yours and feeling like someone's taking it from you even if we're buddies in the locker room. [Vick and Foles] are awesome guys I look up to Mike and Nick a lot...but once we hit the field, in-between the sidelines we all know it's a competition."
Strong words for someone who has yet to take a snap with pads on as a pro, but Barkley knows his competition feels the same way and he isn't afraid of stepping on anyone's toes.
"Mike understands that, he's saying the same thing, I'm not offended. Nick's saying the same thing. None of us are offended. We all understand the rules that we have and the fact that it's a mutual competition and it's just a reality that we all know and we all face. No one is being offended they know that a job is at stake and someone is going to get it and someone's not."
The Eagles selected Barkley out of USC with the 98th overall pick (4th round) in this past April's draft.
Follow Marc Farzetta on Twitter @MarcFarzetta
