The Dallas Cowboys offseason ahead of the 2024 campaign was notoriously inactive, with just one external free agent hardly feeling like such in the reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys were desperate for some help in the backfield after leading rusher Tony Pollard darted to another team. Fans pleaded for the Cowboys to contact either of the game's two best running backs who both happened to be free agents: Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.
Henry would sign with the Baltimore Ravens and eventually have his best season in years, earning himself a high-dollar extension this offseason to stay in Baltimore.
Barkley would be even better. After beginning his career with the New York Giants and slowly inching toward stardom (when he was healthy), Barkley broke out for 2,000 rushing yards in 2024 on the way to being an integral part in the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl title run.
Cowboys fans' frustration grew not just after the Eagles dominated the NFC East with Barkley, but when they learned that Dallas had not contacted either of the star ball carriers throughout free agency ... even when they were obvious fits for the team.
Barkley remembers that offseason well, and at a recent celebrity softball game issued some noteworthy remarks about his division foes.
"Nah, never heard a word from the [Washington] Commanders or Dallas," Barkley said of his free agency last year. "That's why it's 'BTA' (beat that expletive) when I see them."
Now hold on.
There's no question Barkley and the Eagles beat up on their opposition for most of last season (except losing to Washington in Week 15). That includes two bludgeoning affairs over the Cowboys in Week 10 and 17.
But shouldn't Saquon always have a "BTA" mindset against his division rivals? He has played in the NFC East for his entire seven-year career.
Six of those years, of course, were spent on the lowly Giants, who have taken up real estate at the bottom of the division in recent seasons.
Let's look at the numbers...
Barkley has a career 2-10 record against the Cowboys as of today ... with those two wins coming with the Eagles last season.
Meaning ...
He was 0-10 against the Cowboys in his tenure pre-Philly and when Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott is healthy.
As our CowboysCountry.com insider Mike Fisher puts it: "So - as great as he is - Saquon DOES NOT "beat that [bleep]" v. Dallas."
Hats off to Barkley for feeling a sense of confidence in this rivalry now that he's finally felt what it's like to win it.
But ...
If this is his first time with any motivation toward the NFC East, then what does that really tell us about how much "beating" has gone on?
The Eagles and Cowboys won't have to wait long to settle this feud in 2025, as one of the NFL's best rivalries kicks off the regular-season schedule on Thursday Night Football in Philly on Sept. 4.