Former Giants star struggling to get over Saquon Barkley signing with Eagles

Former running back Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and current NFL analyst Tiki Barber got into a verbal altercation with Barkley after Barkley signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, a rival team, in March.

Barber reportedly stated that he never would’ve made a comparable financial decision during his playing career, according to ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jordan Raanan.

Barber forewarned Barkley before to the commencement of free agency that it would be “insulting to his Giant history and legacy” for him to even consider joining the Eagles. Barber joked that Barkley, a 2018 first-round draft pick who had only played for Big Blue in the NFL, was “dead” to him and Giants supporters when Barkley signed a contract with Philadelphia.

With obvious displeasure in his voice, Barkley claimed that Barber had “been a hater since I got to New York.” Barber’s remarks regarding Barkley’s play may or may not have been connected to that remark.

 

Before agreeing to a three-year, $37.75 million contract that may be worth up to $46.75 million, with $26 million fully guaranteed to join with the Eagles, Barkley was linked to the Houston Texans according to rumors. The Texans “bid three years and a bit north of $33M” for Barkley’s services, according to reports from DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. It’s unclear how that contract offer is structured.

Some Giants players are reportedly still furious that Barkley’s contract with the Eagles appeared to be completed prior to the commencement of the free-agent negotiation window. In the end, the NFL found Philadelphia not guilty, but that won’t stop some Giants fans from viewing Barkley as their number one public enemy when he enters MetLife Stadium sporting an Eagles shirt ahead of this Sunday’s NFC East matchup between the two teams.