Saquon Barkley says he considered not playing for the New York Giants this season to protest the standoff that has developed between him and the team over new contract negotiations .
That’s what he said in a podcast interview. The Money Matters which was recorded before Monday, which was also the deadline for franchise players to agree to a long-term contract.
But since the Giants and Barkley didn’t agree to a contract until Monday, that means the star running back will play next season at the franchise player salary of $10.091 million.
Since Barkley still hasn’t signed the offer from the Giants, he can’t be sanctioned if he misses training camp, which begins July 25 for the veterans. Barkley would only lose money if he missed regular season games, a possibility he admitted he considered.
“My leverage is I could say, ‘F— you’ to the Giants, I could say, ‘F— you‘ to my teammates,” Barkley told the podcast, which posted the July 11 interview only Monday. “And I could be like, ‘Do you want me to show you my worth? Want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I will not introduce myself. I will not play a single game.’ It’s something I could do. »
“Anyone who knows me knows that’s not something I want to do. Is this something that crossed my mind? I never thought I would ever do this, but now I’m at a point where I’m like, ‘Jesus, maybe I should go to this level. Am I ready to go this far? I don’t know. »
Barkley said he wanted to discuss his options with his family and advisers to “strategize about it” rather than “get carried away with emotions.” Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier this week that Barkley is not expected to show up for the start of camp.
Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell in 2018 was the last to miss a full season following a breakdown in contract negotiations.
Barkley reiterated that he considers himself the best running back in the NFL, but also said he still wants to help the Giants win a Super Bowl.
“I can try to get as much money as possible, but what really matters is winning,” he added. I know if I’m able to help bring a championship to New York, it’ll help the contract. »
The Giants’ contract negotiations with Barkley didn’t go smoothly from the start. The Giants made an initial offer during last November’s rest week that Barkley never seriously considered, multiple sources told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, before the sides began talks until the end. end of the season.
The Giants’ offers to Barkley increased earlier this year, reaching a point where a deal could reach $14 million per season. The sticking point was the contract’s guaranteed money and structure, which never came close to Barkley’s satisfaction, prompting the Giants to finally use their franchise player tag in March.
Barkley, 26, finished fourth in the NFL with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards last season. He also had ten touchdowns and tied for the team lead with 57 pass receptions. He’s played 60 career games in five seasons since being the second pick in the 2018 draft, when he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2023-07-20 00:34:00
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