Superstar running back Saquon Barkley has never been shy about his desire to begin and end his career with the New York Giants. He’d like to leave a lasting legacy behind and like Eli Manning and Michael Strahan before him, do it without ever wearing different colors.
But after last season’s ugly contract negotiations, which culminated with a modified franchise tag, Barkley now realizes that may not be possible.
In recent months, Barkley’s tone has shifted dramatically. The pending free agent is not only open to possibly playing for another team, but he can envision it.
“It never crossed my mind until last year after I got tagged. Up until that moment, I really believed that I was gonna finish my career as a New York Giant,” Barkley told Complex. “But once you get to this point, you go to your contract negotiation and you go through the tag process, you realize how much of a business it is.
“And I remember vets always telling me this and you know I believed them, but you don’t really know something until you go through it. So could I see myself in another uniform? Yeah, it’s possible.”
That doesn’t mean Barkley will wear a different uniform in 2024, however. He’s still very much open to returning to the Giants but would prefer it if they could avoid the franchise tag.
“(Returning) is still in play. I have so much respect for the Mara family and the Tisch family and everyone in the Giants organization,” Barkley said. “They know that.”
Respect doesn’t pay the bills and it doesn’t earn a paycheck. Barkley is well aware of that and wants what he feels he’s owed. He also wants the opportunity to win a Super Bowl.
“I’m not naive and I’m not, I’m not a fool anymore. I’m at ease that whatever happens, I would love for it to be done but if it can’t and I’m able to move on, I would love to go to a team where I can help them win the Super Bowl for sure,” Barkley said.
It seems as if the stars would need to align for Barkley to return to the Giants in 2024.
