We are often reminded that the NFL is much more than just a sport, it’s a business. It’s something that New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley knows all too well.
With the Giants’ season finally over and a focus now turned to the draft and offseason moves, New York will have some tough roster decisions to make.
However, it’s something that Barkley doesn’t want to linger on, at least when it comes to him and his situation. The star RB knows what that feels like from last year and is not looking to have a repeat of that in 2024.
Saquon Barkley Gets Candid About His Future
The running back position as a whole has been a topic of discussion across the league when it comes to perceived value. As a result, NFL teams are changing the way they handle their contracts. It can be frustrating and unsettling for those backs who are waiting for a payday or wondering where their next move will be.
In Barkley’s case, he has no interest in waiting longer than he needs to — and he told the Giants as much.
While Barkley has expressed that he would love to remain a Giant for his entire career, if the team has different plans, he wants it to happen sooner rather than later.
“If it is my last game, playing here, if it is, it was a fun six years,” Barkley said. “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.”
In addition to that, the idea of the team using the franchise tag on him this year is not a preferred choice, but one he doesn’t want to be dragged out.
“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.
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“If you’re gonna do it, just don’t wait until March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple.”
The offseason is mere hours old for the Giants and those who did not make the playoffs, but for Barkley and the team, it looks like it may already be off to an unsettling start.
Unknown Ahead for Barkley and the Giants
Barkley briefly held out last year in hopes of a better deal with more long-term assurances. While he didn’t get that, he did get a modified deal that was more player-friendly.
Yet, Barkley finds himself back in a similar situation just a year later and has made it clear he does not want a repeat.
How the Giants choose to handle the situation — and just how Barkley wants to go about it — will sway things in a vastly different direction this offseason. There is obvious tension between the player and the franchise, and while it certainly can be fixed, there’s still much to be sorted out between now and Week 1 of next year.
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