By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports activities Author
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has declined an invite to affix President Donald Trump’s council on sports activities, health, and vitamin, which is being revitalized underneath an govt order that additionally reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American youngsters.
Barkley, the two,000-yard rusher for the Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on a listing of sports activities personalities that included golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE govt Paul “Triple H” Levesque, soccer Corridor of Famer Lawrence Taylor and retired New York Yankees nice Mariano Rivera.
Barkley mentioned Monday following Eagles’ observe that he had really declined the invitation.
“A pair months in the past, it was delivered to my staff in regards to the council,” Barkley mentioned. “So I’m not likely too conversant in it. I felt like that I’m going to be tremendous busy. Me and my household thought it will most likely be of greatest curiosity to not settle for that. I used to be undoubtedly somewhat shocked when my title was talked about. I’m assuming it’s one thing nice, so I respect it however was somewhat shocked when my title was talked about.”
Trump final week reestablished the Presidential Health Check for American youngsters, a fixture of public faculties for many years that gauged younger individuals’s well being and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching workouts.
“It is a fantastic custom, and we’re bringing it again,” Trump mentioned of the health take a look at that started in 1966 however was phased out throughout the Obama administration.
The manager order additionally reinvigorated the nationwide sports activities council that might have included Barkley.
Barkley gained AP Offensive Player of the Year final season after dashing for two,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL historical past, in his first season with the Eagles.
Barkley has golfed with Trump and former President Barack Obama during the last 12 months and the operating again attended the White Home celebration of the champion Eagles whereas some teammates — notably star quarterback Jalen Hurts — skipped the ceremony.
Barkley visited Trump in April at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a experience with the president to Washington on Air Drive One after which to the White Home on Marine One.
“He cherished it,” Trump mentioned then of Barkley’s quick flight on the presidential airplane. “He’s an ideal younger man and an unbelievable soccer participant. Saquon had a season for the ages, operating behind essentially the most highly effective offensive line within the NFL.”
Barkley, in the meantime, pushed again on social media criticism following the go to. He famous that he had already golfed with Obama, a Democrat.
“Perhaps I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to know,” Barkley posted on X.
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