RB Craig Reynolds Roars: Files Petition with Lions Board After Eagles Make Saquon Barkley NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back Ever

March 04, 2025 – Detroit Lions fans, brace yourselves: the offseason just turned into a Motor City melee! Craig Reynolds, the Lions’ unsung running back hero, has thrown down the gauntlet, filing a petition with the team’s board of directors mere hours after the Philadelphia Eagles crowned Saquon Barkley the highest-paid running back in NFL history with a deal that’s got jaws dropping and wallets sweating. This isn’t just a contract beef—it’s a full-on roar from a Lion who’s tired of prowling in the shadows. Buckle up, because the NFL’s running back rebellion just hit Detroit with a vengeance!

Barkley’s Big Score: A Philly Blockbuster

Close your eyes and picture Saquon Barkley tearing up the turf in 2024—2,005 regular-season rushing yards, a Super Bowl LIX MVP trophy, and a postseason that pushed his total to a record-smashing 2,504 yards. On Tuesday, the Eagles said, “Take our money!” and handed Barkley a two-year, $41.2 million extension, with $36 million guaranteed and an annual average of $20.6 million—blasting past Christian McCaffrey’s $19 million mark with the 49ers. It’s the kind of payday that makes you spill your coffee, and Barkley didn’t mince words on X: “This is for every RB who’s been slept on. We’re back!”

Philly’s bet on Barkley isn’t just a flex—it’s a seismic shift. Running backs, long dismissed as disposable in a QB-driven league, just got a neon-lit reminder that elite talent still cashes checks. But while Eagles fans toasted their star, a ripple of defiance rolled north to Detroit—and Craig Reynolds was ready to pounce.

Reynolds’ Rebellion: A Lion Unleashed

Meet Craig Reynolds: 28, undrafted, and a grinder who’s spent four years clawing his way from the Lions’ practice squad to the heart of their backfield. On Tuesday, as Barkley’s megadeal lit up the news, Reynolds didn’t just watch—he acted. Sources say he fired off a petition straight to the Lions’ board, demanding a face-to-face to rework his deal. He’s not begging for scraps; he’s gunning to ride the Barkley wave and snag a paycheck that matches his grit.

Reynolds’ 2024 wasn’t headline-grabbing—378 rushing yards on 97 carries, 3 touchdowns—but it was clutch. With Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery forming Detroit’s thunder-and-lightning duo, Reynolds was the glue, stepping up when injuries hit. Remember November 28 against the Bears? Montgomery went down, and Reynolds ripped off 62 yards on 12 carries, sealing a Thanksgiving win. “Craig’s our unsung warrior,” a Lions insider said. “He doesn’t dazzle, but he delivers.”

His current one-year, $1.125 million contract—signed in March 2024—feels like chump change next to Barkley’s millions. With free agency on the horizon, Reynolds is betting on himself, and this petition is his battle cry: I’m worth more. Pay me, or I’m gone.

From Underdog to Upstart: Why Now?

Reynolds isn’t a household name like Barkley, who’s been a star since his Penn State days. He’s the guy who bounced from team to team—Falcons, Commanders, Jaguars—before sticking in Detroit in 2021. But 2024 showed his value: in games where he got 10+ carries, the Lions went 3-0, including a playoff-clinching win over Green Bay. He’s not the flashiest, but he’s the heartbeat of a team that finished 12-5 and pushed to the NFC Championship.

Barkley’s deal lit the fuse. “Saquon’s reset the game,” Reynolds reportedly told teammates. “If he’s worth $20 million, guys like me deserve a real look.” His petition isn’t just about cash—it’s about respect for a position that’s been kicked around too long.

Detroit’s Dilemma: Feed the Lion or Let Him Roam?

Here’s the rub: the Lions are riding high after a breakout 2024, with Gibbs and Montgomery locked in as their RB stars. Reynolds is the third wheel, but he’s a damn good one. Boosting his deal—say, to $5 million a year—wouldn’t break the bank (Detroit’s got $42 million in 2025 cap space), but it could ruffle feathers in a backfield already splitting carries. GM Brad Holmes loves his depth, but will he pay a premium for a role player when Gibbs is due for a big extension soon?

Fans are split. “Craig’s earned it—he’s a Lion through and through,” one X user posted. Another countered, “Love him, but $1 million’s fair for a backup.” The board’s response could set the tone: reward loyalty, or stick to the budget and risk losing Reynolds to a team hungry for a proven grinder.

The RB Revolution Roars On

Zoom out, and this is bigger than Detroit. Barkley’s deal cracked the ceiling; Reynolds’ petition is the next brick in a running back renaissance. If he pulls this off, watch out—guys like Rico Dowdle, Khalil Herbert, or even practice-squad studs might start knocking on doors. The NFL’s old guard says RBs don’t deserve the bag, but 2024’s proving otherwise: Barkley’s a champ, Reynolds is a fighter, and the position’s pulse is pounding.

So, what’s next? Will the Lions’ board roar back with a new deal, or will Reynolds bolt for a bigger stage? One thing’s for damn sure: the NFC North just got wilder, and Craig Reynolds isn’t backing down. This offseason’s a jungle—and the Lions’ quiet warrior is ready to hunt.