As Philadelphia Eagle fans face national scrutiny after a viral video of someone verbally assaulting a woman, star running back Saquon Barkley has come to their defense.

With the Eagles set to face the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional playoff game on Sunday, Rams player Jared Verse expressed his hatred for Eagles fans in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Verse’s comments came just days after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell was fired from his job when video of him insulting a female Green Bay Packers fan at a playoff game last Sunday went viral.

“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said. “They are so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”

Asked by reporters about Verse’s pregame comments, Barkley suggested the Rams rookie’s decision to say those things was “not smart.”

“Probably not the smartest thing to say if you’re coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters Friday.

Barkley mentioned his previous experience playing in Philadelphia as an opponent when he was with the New York Giants from 2018-23.

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“I’ve been on the other side, I’ve felt one way or another,” Barkley said. “I probably wouldn’t give them extra fuel.”

Barkley expects Verse to receive a particularly rude greeting when he takes the field on Sunday.

“I’m pretty sure Philly fans saw that comment. It would already be loud and rocking, so it’s just going to add to it,” Barkley said.

Verse is just one of the fiercely vocal critics of Eagles fans in the wake of the viral footage of Caldwell. Vers said that even though the game was in Los Angeles, he heard raucous Eagles fans, despite wearing headphones.

“I didn’t even do anything for them. It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said.

The Eagles won that game 37-20, and Barkley ran wild, amassing 302 scrimmage yards, including 255 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is pushed out of bounds by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Alex Gallardo-Imagn Photos)

Meanwhile, Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after a video of his insults went viral. He has apologized but also defended himself, insisting his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “doesn’t show the full context” of what happened.

“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement.

“What began as banter with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated into something more serious and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose merciless words to address a of the fans, Mrs. Ally Keller.

“I sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, and to my wife, family and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia and anyone who was offended. When it is said, there are two sides to every story.

Ryan Caldwell was identified as the fan who taunted a Packers fan. (X/@Basaraski)

“The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what happened and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience and I will certainly pay a personal price. For those who do not know me, This incident does not reflect my values ​​or the respect I have for others and does not reflect the person I am.”

The viral video was filmed by Keller’s fiancé, Alexander Basara, and quickly spread across the Internet in the days following the Eagles’ 22-10 victory.

Caldwell’s apology and the news of his firing prompted a wave of celebration and jeers from sports fans on social media.

Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior.

The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site court and jail cells to deal with delinquent fans.