New York Giants fans are still heartbroken over the free agency departure of star running back Saquon Barkley. Not only because he left, but because he ended up with the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he hated.
In a recent interview, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni revealed that he has a standard response to Giants fans who harass him about stealing Barkley.
“I usually let it go, but if the person is good enough for me, I usually say, ‘I have the best player.’” Sirianni said. Via Pro Football Talk.
And Sirianni would have known. Since the Giants selected Barkley with the second overall pick in 2018, he has faced Philadelphia nine times and scored seven touchdowns.
“It was great to see him in green,” Sirianni said. “And I know. It’s great to see him there. Just like the last time we missed a tackle on him on the sideline. Now we are not tackling. But even if he’s not wearing pads, he can tell whether the guy has made a tackle or not. And I had that vision from the sideline, we were watching all these plays from the sideline, and I saw Saquon make someone miss, Saquon make someone miss and do it again.
“That brought me back to mind and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m glad I’m not glad our defensive player missed the tackle on this particular guy, but I’m really glad Saquon gave that one. Number 26 is on our side and we miss him.’”
The Eagles signed Barkley, the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler, to a three-year, $37.75 million contract in March, with $26 million guaranteed.
The Giants and Barkley have been negotiating a new contract for nearly two years, but nothing has come close in the long term. Big Blue did not make a free agent offer to Barkley and did not oppose the Eagles’ offer.
