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Two Falcons take exception to Saquon Barkley’s combine praise

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Credit: Joe Robbins

Credit: Joe Robbins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
By Alex Makrides
March 5, 2018

Former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley put on a clinic during his NFL scouting combine last Friday. His performance was so impressive, the NFL media research team tweeted out some comparisons to other notable NFL stars’ combine results.

For Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and former Falcon returner Devin Hester, the list ruffled their feathers. Hester took to Instagram to point out that he wasn’t 100 percent healthy when he participated in the combine.

“No disrespect to S Barkley But I ran in the combine with a pulled hamstring with sneakers on, just so I wouldn’t make it any worse. Was told by all the scouts that if I did bad that I could make it up at pro day. @nfl @nflnetwork @NFLResearch do you really think he was faster then me!!!!,” Hester wrote.

Jones also chimed in to defend his combine performance in the 40-yard dash. He was diagnosed with a broken foot following the combine in 2011.

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