New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks to reporters before mandatory minicamp at the Giants training center in East Rutherford on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Syndication: The Record
(New York, NY) – It may not have been a perfect offseason for the New York Giants, but as training camp gets underway, the Giants are preparing for the upcoming campaign with their offensive core intact.
Quarterback Daniel Jones was signed to a long-term deal, Saquon Barkley agreed to a one-year contract (avoiding a potential holdout), and standout left tackle Andrew Thomas agreed to a contract extension.
The Barkley situation carried the most drama, as the running back and team captain failed to reach a multi-year extension, and ultimately settled for an incentive-laden deal that tracked his “franchise player” tag. Barkley signed his deal and agreed to attend training camp on Tuesday, which has GM Joe Schoen “fired up.” Batting away rumors that bubbled up in recent days, Schoen said, “We never had any discussions about trading Saquon Barkley. … None.”
Head Coach Brian Daboll echoed those sentiments, explaining he’s been in contact with Barkley and maintained communication with the star running back throughout the offseason. Daboll assessed his team and Barkley, saying, “(He’s) a good player and good leader for us and I’m glad he’s in the building. We’re in a good spot.”
Regarding not reaching that long-term extension, the GM said both sides just “couldn’t bridge the gap.” As for any lingering hostility between Barkley and the Giants’ front office, Schoen said the player never expressed any frustration or hostility toward him amid negotiations.
And it was truly a cherry on top for Big Blue when standout left tackle Andrew Thomas signed a deal that will keep him in New York through 2029: “He played at a high level. He’s our type of guy,” Schoen said, and he nodded toward John Mara and Steve Tisch: “I’m thankful to ownership to give us the resources to move forward.”
Schoen used the word “ecstatic” to describe how he’s feeling as training camp gets going. Coach Daboll explained, “I’m excited all our guys are here. … We have a bunch of good guys in the locker room. We had a plan in the offseason culminating today with (Thomas’ extension)… We have to go out and guys have to earn everything.”
