On Monday, with the New York Giants roster reporting to training camp over the next week, they failed to reach a contract extension agreement with superstar running back Saquon Barkley. While officially on the franchise tag for the 2023 season, Barkley may now hold out of camp.
It’s an unfortunate development for Barkley, one of the clear-cut best tailbacks in professional football. Even after a season where he clearly carried the Giants’ offense with over 1,600 multipurpose yards and 10 touchdowns, Barkley didn’t get the bag. When you factor in the extremely productive Austin Ekeler’s labor situation with the Los Angeles Chargers and how the Las Vegas Raiders are dealing with last year’s leading rusher Josh Jacobs, it’s evident that top running backs are being valued less than ever.
Barkley’s situation, in particular, seemed to draw the attention of Jonathan Taylor. The NFL’s 2021 leading rusher is entering the last year of his rookie contract with the Indianapolis Colts and figures to enter his own contract talks with the organization soon enough.
And, almost immediately after it was revealed Barkley didn’t get a long-term extension, Taylor shared a stunned one-word reaction on Twitter:
Wow.
— Jonathan Taylor (@JayT23) July 17, 2023
A little over 10 minutes after Barkley and the Giants didn’t meet their extension deadline and Taylor’s first tweet in almost two weeks. That can’t be a coincidence. I can’t confirm it for sure, but it seems to me that the modern running-back reality hit Taylor hard with Barkley’s stalled contract talks.
I’d like to say it’ll go differently for Taylor, but I can’t be remotely confident in such a sentiment after seeing how some teams are treating their offensive bell cows lately.
NFL fans theorized Taylor was stunned about Barkley's failed contract talks
do the right thing chris ballard https://t.co/kyqfD404mt
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) July 17, 2023
I presume this is about Saquon not reaching a deal with the Giants! https://t.co/pl1UKqfLOt
— Derek Larger (@derek_larger) July 17, 2023
Not much to look forward to as a running back right? Be a team captain, your offense’s most productive player and a great leader, and still get absolutely no long term commitment from the team who drafted you? I feel you JT. https://t.co/1I0rFGkiG2
— Amber (@amberyevoli) July 17, 2023
JT realizing he’s never getting paid either https://t.co/ky9fOlAtGA
— Shawn Williams (@5hawnWilliams) July 17, 2023
Tough time to be a young RB looking to get paid what you deserve. https://t.co/CKxqMR9iry
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) July 17, 2023
Just realized that Taylor is also set to be a FA at the end of the 2023 season once his 4-year rookie contract expires.
The RB market is gonna be one for the ages at the beginning of 2024. 👀👀👀 https://t.co/OzNL3R9Xl0
— Zachary Wilson (@zwilsonpxp) July 17, 2023
Someone’s paying attention. https://t.co/KmEhCUUKge
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) July 17, 2023
This reaction seems somewhat important… https://t.co/2Xwk9vlJOY
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) July 17, 2023
Running backs in the NFL, right behind offensive linemen, are the most disrespected players in football.
Yes, their shelf life is shorter than other positions, but you don’t have to resign them to a market-setting deal each time. Pay them what they are worth https://t.co/4mcnYtbtVQ
— Logan Brown (@LoganABrown) July 17, 2023
