Los Angeles Rams newcomer Jared Verse expressed his feelings about Philadelphia Eagles fans before their upcoming game on Sunday.

“I really can’t stand Eagles fans,” Verse told The Los Angeles Times on Thursday. “They’re just so irritating. I really can’t stand them.”

Star running back Saquon Barkley of the Eagles thinks the Rams’ rookie made a poor choice by saying that. When asked about Verse’s remarks during a media session on Friday, Barkley chuckled and hinted that Verse might have stirred the pot with his comment.

“Probably not the best idea to say that when you’re heading to Philadelphia,” Barkley shared with reporters, sporting a grin. “I’ve experienced that myself (while playing for the New York Giants), and even if I felt a certain way, I would likely keep those thoughts to myself so they don’t have additional fuel. I’m pretty sure the fans in Philly have noticed that comment, and it’s just going to make them louder and more energized.”

Barkley’s observation is valid, as it’s common for NFL players and their respective fan bases to react to provocations made by their rivals. A recent instance involved the Rams drawing motivation from a hot-mic remark made by Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell to Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, which contributed to their 27-9 playoff victory over the Vikings.

Given this context, Philadelphia fans will probably respond robustly to Verse’s remarks, amplifying their heckling compared to their previous encounter in Week 12. During that matchup, Verse faced a barrage of insults from the Eagles supporters, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

“I didn’t even do anything to them,” Verse commented about the Eagles fans. “It was my first time playing there. Oh, I really can’t stand them.”

Having spent three years of his high school career in Pennsylvania, Verse has had more exposure to Eagles fans compared to many others, which contributes to his strong dislike for the team—even their colors.

“When I see that green and white, it frustrates me,” Verse admitted. “I genuinely feel upset. It really gets to me.”

Verse will need to harness that intensity into performance when the Eagles face off against the Rams this Sunday. He’ll specifically need to step up to help contain Barkley, who accumulated 302 scrimmage yards in their last encounter.

Meanwhile, the Eagles fan base will be focused on getting under Verse’s skin as the rookie aims to improve on his initial postseason performance, which included two tackles.