Dec 4, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) following the game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Washington Commanders at New York Giants
(East Rutherford, NJ) – The New York Giants have a lot of questions to answer this upcoming offseason.
Perhaps the biggest outstanding issue is: what happens next for Saquon Barkley? Will his time with Big Blue come to an end? Is a long term contract extension a possibility?
Earlier this week, Giants GM Joe Schoen addressed the situation with his star running back, and past negotiations with Barkley’s agents: “We tried long and hard to get something done with him, and we’ll see what happens in the offseason.” But Schoen batted away other questions on the subject, indicating he wouldn’t expound further on Barkley’s contract or future – and he said the same thing for other impending free agents.
Still, reporters pressed Schoen on Barkley’s value to the franchise, and whether or not he could be part of the team’s future. Schoen responded that, “Saquon’s a captain, he comes to work every day. I know there were some questions a couple weeks ago about still coming to work and the longevity and tread on the tires and all that stuff. He comes to work every day, he does everything we ask, he’s a great teammate… as you’re going through adversity I think he’s a big part of keeping the locker room together. I respect Saquon a lot and the way he’s handled himself through this entire process, and I have a lot of respect for Saquon.”
At this year’s trade deadline, the team opted to keep Barkley, although the uber talented back likely would have had team’s interested in him – depending on the price New York was asking. Schoen shares the team was never close to dealing Barkley, in that, “it just didn’t make sense,” and the team, “didn’t take any calls or receive any calls on him.”
Barkley has previously said he wants to be a Giant for life, but has also acknowledged that he may need to go elsewhere to get the contract he feels he deserves.
