Report: Saquon Barkley felt 'disrespected' and might hold out
The New York Giants are in a difficult position with one of the very best players in all of football. The Saquon Barkley drama is reaching an entirely new level. If you've been under a rock the past 24 hours, Barkley was one of several NFL running backs to not get a new deal. Meaning, […]
The New York Giants are in a difficult position with one of the very best players in all of football. The Saquon Barkley drama is reaching an entirely new level.
If you've been under a rock the past 24 hours, Barkley was one of several NFL running backs to not get a new deal. Meaning, Barkley will either play on the franchise tag or simply not play, a tactic that hasn't worked too well for other running backs wanting to secure the bag.
It appears we officially have our answer as Tony Pauline, a consulting editor and NFL draft analyst, broke the news that Barkley feels 'disrespected' and could very well just refuse to play this season.
In his article, Pauline shed light on the situation and what's going on behind the scenes. Needless to say, things aren't looking good.
Sources close to the situation told me on Tuesday the Giants could have a real fight on their hands and they expect Barkley to hold out for a significant period of time. I’m told the running back is not just disappointed he was unable to strike a long term deal with the team but also hurt and Barkley feels disrespected.
There's a lot riding on Brian Daboll's shoulders, along with the front office, as this decision will play a big part in how successful they are on the field this season. While the team is hoping their rookies can step up and compete, and Daniel Jones after getting his contract will take another step in the right direction, Barkley's role can not be understated. He is a one-man wrecking crew who has single-handily won the organization plenty of games over the past few seasons. Despite his injuries, Barkley is an elite talent in one of the most difficult positions and sports on the planet.
Speaking on Jones, the decision to not pay Barkley but rather give Jones his massive deal may prove to be a disaster for the organization. While the quarterback market dictated that Joe Schoen would need to pay big bucks for Jones, their decision could have them lose out on Barkley entirely.
Shoen, to his credit, was consistent and reportedly had talks with both Jones and Barkley's camp, indicating that he wanted to get a deal done for both of them this offseason.
He may not have known it at the time, but it very well could have been a Jones or Barkley type situation, and the team may have chosen wrongly. Whatever happens, if Barkley doesn't play and the team falters, the Jones decision could have a devastating impact on the immediate future of the organization.
Things are about to get a whole lot more interesting. Buckle up, this is only the beginning.
Giants: Saquon Barkley sends a signal in latest social media post
Read for a look into Saquon’s cryptic messaging
Featured image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
