Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants may be coming to an end, but where his next destination might be has many in the area uneasy.
Originally born in the Bronx, Barkley’s family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — just an hour outside of Philadelphia — when the future NFL running back was just four years old. The family has stayed near the area since then, allowing many of his friends to grow up as Philadelphia Eagles fans through the years.
After a six-year career with the Giants, Barkley is set to hit the free agent market, with plenty of major news organizations citing Philadelphia as a potential destination in which both sides “have interest.”
The rumors have left one of New York’s greatest running back legends beside himself when thinking about that possibility.
Tiki Barber Bashes Saquon Barkley for Free Agency Report
When Tiki Barber retired after the 2006 season, he retired as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and a staple in Giants lore. In many ways, Barber has seen similarities between his game and that of Barkley — despite Barkley being a former second-overall pick and Barber being a second-rounder.
Since reports have come out stating Barkley’s interest in the Eagles as a free agent destination, though, the WFAN radio host has made it clear what side of the aisle he’s on.
“The fact that Saquon would even contemplate going to play for THAT team in Philadelphia is insulting to his Giants history and legacy,” Barber said Thursday on his afternoon show.
The three-time Pro Bowl running back turned sports analyst pointed out that while Barkley’s career with the Giants may be over due to the lack of negotiations on New York’s part, there are plenty of other places Barkley could go instead of a division rival.
“Go to Baltimore! Go to Houston! Do not go to the Philadelphia Eagles. Because if you do, that appreciation, that respect we all have for you, Saquon, would be gone.”
Players moving from the Giants to the Eagles is a rare occurrence but has become a standard of sorts in recent seasons. After New York released James Bradberry following the 2022 NFL Draft, Philadelphia swooped in to pick him up. While Bradberry struggled in 2023, his 2022 season helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII.
Barkley’s pending free agency would be on another level, though. As a homegrown player and arguably New York’s best offensive player of the last five years, Barkley is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. At 27 years old, the likelihood that he is negotiating for his last long-term contract is very high.
Most players, in that instance, will want to go to organizations that can get the most out of them. Barkley would be no exception. Behind Philadelphia’s offensive line, historically one of the best in football, the pressure would be off him to be the main offensive weapon for the group.
That could also be the case should he end up in Houston, Baltimore, or anywhere else.
To a former player and Giant like Barber, that’s exactly the point.
“If he goes to Houston, and he’s down there with C.J. Stroud and even wins a championship, we’ll still feel happy for him,” Barber explained. “No matter what happens in Philadelphia, we would hate it.”
The legal tampering for free agents is set to begin on Monday when Barkley and many other talented running backs will be able to negotiate long-term deals that benefit their overall lives. With so many other top runners like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler joining him, Barkley could simultaneously have plenty of suitors and competition.
That’s why Barber left the potentially former Giant with a parting threat should he sign with New York’s biggest football rival.
“You’re going to turn into one of those people we hate. And we don’t want that. We’ll respect you, but we’ll hate you.”
The Eagles and Giants have had plenty of impressive rivalry moments throughout their history. Should Barkley decide to sign with the Eagles, the next chapter of one of the best NFL rivalries will be written before the games even begin.
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