The New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley are currently in a contractual stalemate.
Barkley has yet to sign the $10.1 million franchise tender offered by the Giants as both sides work towards a long-term deal. Most clearly view Barkley as a key piece to the Giants’ offense, but Giants legend Tiki Barber apparently sees things a little differently.
According to Barber, the Giants won’t be worse off if Barkley sits out this season given his injury history.
“That’s the M.O.: The running back is gonna get hurt, so why pay him?” Barber said on his WFAN show, Tiki & Tierney. “I know Giant fans want Saquon Barkley on this team, and feel like they need Saquon on this team — but the fact is, if he’s not on this team, I honestly don’t know if they’d be worse off.
“I think they would be because of the locker room, but I can’t say for a fact, ‘This team won’t win 10 games without Saquon Barkley.’ I can’t say that.”
The Giants and Barkley have until July 17th to agree to a new contract. After that date, Barkley must either sign the $10.1 million tender or sit out the season.
According to The New York Post, Barkley has “at different points during and immediately following the season, turned down offers worth $13 million and $12.5 million annually.”
