Saquon Barkley has yet to sign the franchise tag for the upcoming season as he and the Giants continue to try and work out a long-term deal. During the offseason, there have been several reports about him turning down offers and the star running back addressed it all while at his AMPT football camp on Sunday.
“I would like to address that I feel like there’s been some things out there that’s been misleading,” Barkley said. “I’ve been public. I’ve been open about it. I said I want to be a Giant for life.”
Barkley was then asked directly if he was talking about reports of him turning down extension offers, to which he said, “Yeah, it’s misleading, for sure.”
Saquon Barkley says that reports of offers he has turned down from the Giants are "misleading"
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) June 12, 2023
"I've been open about it, I said I want to be a Giant for life. This is where I want to be. At the end of the day, it's all about respect." pic.twitter.com/jpPSVuJvmP
Barkley harped on the subject of mutual respect between him and New York and was clear he wasn’t looking for an all-time payday.
“As I have previously stated, I’m not looking to set any contract records,” he said. “I’m not demanding to be the highest paid player at my position. I understand the market. My goal is just to be compensated respectfully based on my contributions to the team on the field and in the locker room. I’ve been in talks with the Giants throughout the offseason. If at some point there’s a deal that is fair to both sides on the table, I’ll be ready to sign.”
Barkley tallied 1,650 yards from scrimmage in 2022 and rushed for 10 touchdowns on his way to a second Pro Bowl at just 26 years old. He and the Giants have until July 17 to agree to a new deal, per ESPN.
