From backwards hurdles to dazzling touchdown runs, whenever Saquon Barkley makes a big play on the field, people notice. Behind the scenes, his gestures are more subtle, but the impact is just as significant. It could be a dap for an anxious rookie, or an invitation to a third-stringer to come over for Thanksgiving dinner. In speaking to over a dozen members of the Philadelphia Eagles organization in recent weeks, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane came away with a unanimous consensus: players and coaches love the addition of Barkley, both to the depth chart and in the locker room. With the Eagles continuing to close in on the playoffs, find out why Barkley has been an ideal fit, and how his presence and intangibles should be enough to spare the team an inglorious fate the likes of which it suffered last year.

00:00 Saquon Barkley, Part I: The “special dude”

17:40 Saquon Barkley, Part II: The “enforcer”

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.