Following a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley sounded like a player who knows he could be on his way out.
Although Barkley has professed a love for the Giants, saying he wants to spend his entire career in East Rutherford and leave a legacy behind, he apparently now sees the possibility for a different future,
“If it is my last game, playing here, if it is, it was a fun six years,” Barkley said on Sunday. “Made a lot of great memories, but it’s not like the last time I’m ever playing football. I can’t control that, so I’m not letting my emotions. If I knew that it was my last game, I probably would feel a little different but like I said, I have no idea.”
Less than 24 hours later, Barkley sounded even more crass.
As the Giants held exit meetings for players on Monday, they also implemented an open-door policy. Barkley voluntarily passed on the opportunity to meet with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
“They know how to reach me,” Barkley said, via the New York Post.
Barkley’s comments came after Schoen acknowledged that the franchise tag is a potential option, albeit an unlikely one, for the running back once again.
“That’s a tool that we have at our disposal,” Schoen said. “That’s an option we have on the table. We’ll have those conversations — I’m not saying we will or we won’t. A lot of those conversations will be had in the next month or so.”
That was not music to Barkley’s ears.
“They did it last year. So I’m numb to it. I don’t have any feelings toward that at all,” Barkley said, via the New York Daily News. “If you’re gonna do it, just don’t wait until March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple.”
A year ago, contract negotiations dragged on for what felt like an eternity. In the end, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement and the Giants designated Barkley their franchise player.
Although Barkley initially held out, he eventually caved and signed a modified version of his tender that was ripe with incentives. Unfortunately for Barkley, none of those were hit this year and he walked away with the franchise minimum.
As the time comes to reengage negotiations, the Giants and Barkley seem further apart than ever.
