The New York Giants have a long and historical rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles, so when Saquon Barkley turned in his blue uniform for green, he should have expected some flack.
That’s exactly what former Giants great Tiki Barber was doing when he learned of the signing during the daily Evan & Tiki show on WFAN.
“He’s dead to us now. He’s dead to us. You’re dead to us, Saquon. Good luck. You’re dead to me,” Barber said with a smile on his face.
Clearly, the comment was in jest but Barkley still didn’t appreciate it. At all.
@TikiBarber lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team.. I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs https://t.co/6aKgJquD0F
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 11, 2024
@TikiBarber you been a hater since I got to New York … and all the “Dead to me” talk don’t smile in my face when you see me
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 11, 2024
Barber has since indicated that his original comment was indeed meant to be tongue-in-cheek. He spent his entire 10-year career with the Giants at a time when the rivalry with the Eagles was tense.
Barber’s comment has far less to do with Barkley as a person than it does with the Eagles as a landing spot.
Still, Barber responded to Barkley’s tweets.
Saquon Barkley fired back at Tiki for his "dead to us" comments, and now, Tiki has responded:@EvanandTikiWFAN pic.twitter.com/8FbKM8bopb
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) March 11, 2024
“I don’t even know what he’s talking about. I’ve done nothing but support Saquon Barkley,” Barber said. “I’m not sure what he’s talking about.”
Barkley signing with another team because he received an offer he liked is not the underlying issue. It’s that he went to a division rival and then couldn’t handle the reaction.
The signing may have been about more than money, though, as Barkley grew up an hour from Philadelphia. He may have grown up a Jets fan, but this move sends him home. Now the Giants have to prepare to face him twice a year.
