There’s more information on the potential standoff between the New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley.
After it was learned Wednesday that Barkley will not sign his franchise-tag tender before the Giants’ offseason program begins this coming Monday, Fox Sports NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano tweeted that the ball carrier “wasn’t happy with the franchise tag.”
Vacchiano added that “no camp holdout is expected” but also said that “the Giants don’t have much of an interest in signing Saquon Barkley to a long-term deal at this point” because “the $10.1M franchise tag is a good deal for” the organization.
The Giants agreed to a four-year contract with quarterback Daniel Jones on March 7 and then used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Barkley’s rights that same afternoon. Back in January, Ian O’Connor of the New York Post (h/t Ryan Dunleavy) reported that Barkley’s camp rejected “a three-or four-year deal averaging about $12M-$12.5M” during New York’s bye week this past fall.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen made it known in late March that the offer is no longer on the table for Barkley even though co-owner John Mara admitted to reporters at that same time he has told the 2018 first-round draft pick that “we want him to be a Giant for his entire career.” Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com mentioned on Wednesday that Barkley recently attended a passing camp hosted by Jones in Arizona and likely “knows at some point he will have to sign the tag.”
The Giants and Barkley have until the July 17 deadline to come to terms on a long-term contract. Patricia Traina of FanNation’s Giants Country echoed Vacchiano and said Wednesday that Barkley “is not expected to miss training camp unless he digs in and continues to protest having received the tag.”
According to ESPN stats, Barkley finished this past regular season fourth in the league with 1,312 rushing yards and 295 carries. He was ninth overall with 10 rushing touchdowns and also caught 57 passes for 338 yards as New York’s co-offensive most valuable player alongside Jones.
