Saquon Barkley won’t be slowed by contract friction with Giants

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There are signs inside the New York Football Giants facility that blare for all to see: We Is Greater Than Me.

No one has honored those words more than Saquon Barkley.

And three of his fellow captains — Daniel Jones, Xavier McKinney and Andrew Thomas — not to mention everyone else inside 1925 Giants Drive, from GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll on down, expect nothing less from Barkley, for five years The Ultimate Giant.

But at some point in the season, there exists the possibility that Saquon Barkley will have to confront The $11 million question:

Will We Be Greater Than Me as much for him as it assuredly will be for Jones (4 years, $160M), Dexter Lawrence (4 years, $90M) and now for Thomas, who strolled in on Wednesday with a five-year, $117.5M deal with a record-breaking $67M in guaranteed money for offensive tackles? Barkley received artificial sweeteners to his one-year, $10.1M deal as incentives to show up on time for training camp.

Will the prideful Barkley run angry to prove the Giants wrong or prove himself right when the sobering running back reality in the NFL inevitably reminds him that he cannot afford to run with reckless abandon with his Giant For Life dream more of a long shot than it has ever been?


Giants
Saquon Barkley works out at Giants training camp on Wednesday.
Robert Sabo for NY Post

Human nature being what it is, will he push himself to the limit and play hurt for teammates and fans he loves if a playoff berth is on the line, or if it isn’t?

Asked if he has any concern about Barkley’s frame of mind, McKinney said: “No, not at all. I know who he is, we all know who he is. He’s a worker, he’s a workhorse, he never is complacent, he never got complacent, so we know what he’s gonna bring.”

Barkley’s teammates, his coaches, his front office, his owners, are taking it to the bank that The Ultimate Giant will leave the grim darkness of failed negotiations in the rearview mirror and run to daylight for them and with them. They are counting on him to continue to be one of the sport’s great competitors.

“I think he’s been himself,” Jones said. “He’s excited to be here, he’s come to work, he’s the same leader, the same presence in the locker room. I think that speaks to him as a guy, his character, his professionalism and just who he is and how important the team is to him. He understands his role on it and how impactful he can be on others.”

Barkley likes to use doubters, perceived or otherwise, as motivation. Prior to his return to excellence last season, he said this on the 2ndWind Podcast:

“People are trying to write me off. … You know what? F–k everybody. I’m ready to go crazy. And I’m [going to] let the world feel me.”

And the football world clearly did.

“He’s a leader on this team, he’s an influential guy, and someone who sets the standard and sets the example of what it’s supposed to look like,” Jones said. “It’s awesome to have him back.”

Schoen and Daboll seconded that emotion. Who wouldn’t?

“Saquon and I have a really good relationship,” Daboll said. “We’ve communicated a lot. And he’s here. He’s ready to go, he’s excited to be here, and I’m excited that he’s here.”

Barkley probably should have hired some of his fellow captains as his agents.

“He’s one of those guys where he’s a generational talent,” McKinney said. “Just glad to have him.”

Thomas’ most critical job is keeping Jones upright. But opening holes for the devalued running backs is a big part of the job description as well.

“I do think he’s a great player,” Thomas said. “Obviously he’s explosive. I hope the best for him in his situation, but all I can do is just focus on being the best teammate I can for him.”

There was one play in Wednesday’s practice when Barkley juked inside and then darted toward the sideline to make a sprawling inbounds catch of a Jones bullet against McKinney.

Giants fans in the bleachers, many of them wearing No. 26 jerseys, roared. One of those fans, a young man wearing an No. 90 jersey named Kareem Reyad, held up a sign that read “Saquon My Ex Will Take Me Back If You Sign This.”

“It was a good catch,” McKinney said, and smiled. “But it’s another one of those things, 7-on-7, no pressure. So they got 30 seconds to throw the ball, so I’m not too much worried about it.”

Barkley was not made available to the media.

“That was a great play he made there on the sideline, and he has the ability to do those things and make plays in the pass game,” Jones said. “Obviously as a runner, but also in the pass game.”

More than a running back, feel free to call him Saquon Bargain.

“He’s a pro, he’s in shape, and I wouldn’t expect anything different out of Saquon,” Schoen said.

This is how Barkley trolled McKinney afterward on the practice field: “I won the day.”


Giants
Saquon Barkley runs the ball during Giants training camp on Wednesday.
Robert Sabo for NY Post

Actually, Schoen won the day by locking up his franchise left tackle … and of course by figuring out a way to get Barkley into camp.

“We’re fired up about it,” Schoen said. “We’re a better football team with Saquon here to start training camp.”

Thomas won the day with his own Giant For Life extension. Barkley won the day mostly because he was back where he belongs, playing the game he loves with his teammates. Many days ahead for him to win. Many days ahead for him to be the Saquon Barkley he has always been. WeQuan. Not MeQuan.

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