Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley revealed on Thursday night that the New York Giants never formally extended a contract offer to him before he opted to sign with the Eagles during the offseason free agency period.
Barkley was spotted among the spectators on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for Game 6 of the first-round NBA playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, which the Knicks won, leading to the elimination of the Sixers.
Following the game, Barkley took to social media, posting on X, stating: “It’s been two months… lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game.” In response, a fan accused Barkley of “bailing” on New York, to which Barkley offered the subsequent reply:
Should the Giants truly have neglected to extend Barkley a contract proposal, it ultimately worked in favor of their NFC East adversaries, the Eagles, who secured Barkley with a three-year, $37.75 million agreement.
Barkley further aggravated Giants fans in a subsequent social media update, expressing his eagerness to perform in front of Eagles supporters after experiencing the playoff ambiance at the Sixers game:
The 27-year-old Barkley hails from Bronx, New York, but he was raised in Pennsylvania and attended Penn State University.
Following an impressive college career, the Giants selected Barkley as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, a choice that quickly paid off. In his rookie season, Barkley amassed 1,307 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores, earning him Pro Bowl honors and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year title.
Despite battling injuries over the subsequent three seasons, Barkley rebounded in 2022 with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, securing his second Pro Bowl selection.
Amidst fan clamor for a contract extension, the Giants opted to place the franchise tag on Barkley. Rather than signing the franchise tender, Barkley opted for a one-year, $10.091 million deal with the Giants, including $909,000 in incentives.
Following a remarkable playoff run in 2022, the Giants struggled in 2023, largely due to subpar quarterback performance. Barkley also saw a decline in production, tallying 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games.
When negotiations between Barkley and the Giants yielded no results, the Eagles seized the opportunity to sign him in free agency, allowing D’Andre Swift to depart for the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia’s running game has been a cornerstone of their success, with both Swift and Miles Sanders achieving career-best seasons in recent years.
Barkley now has the chance to replicate that success if he can maintain his health, which would undoubtedly sting for Giants fans to witness, especially as he achieves it with a rival team in Philadelphia.
