thelesterlee
From the moment former Giants GM, Dave Gettleman, used the 2018 no. 2 overall draft pick to select Saquon Barkley, I knew there would be a contract dispute when his rookie deal was up. And what do you know, 5 years later and Saquon is currently holding out of training camp until the team offers him a fair long-term contract.
The Giants did the smart thing by franchise tagging Saquon Barkey but he is currently holding out of mini camps and refusing to sign the tag. Bit of a problem for a Giants team that finished 4th in the NFL in rushing yards last season thanks mainly to Saquon’s 295 carries for 1,312 yards.
Saquon being on the field changes the way Daniel Jones plays. When Saquon plays, Daniel Jones has 44 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions with a 91.4 passer rating. When Saquon doesn’t play, Jones has 16 touchdowns to 17 interceptions with a 77.3 passer rating.
Most smart NFL people will tell you it’s a mistake to dedicate a large fraction of your salary cap to the running back position because running backs are often hurt and their production falls off a cliff. We’ve also seen cheap undrafted running backs show up day one capable of matching the production of the highest-paid guys.
But all of that logic and cute shit goes out of the window when your brand new front office and coaching staff walk in last season and not only end the organization’s 5-year postseason draught but proceed to win a playoff game for the first time since 2011.
Signing Saquon Barkley to a fair long-term contract isn’t about the health of the salary cap or any of that nonsense. It should be about establishing and maintaining a culture for your franchise where winning players are rewarded for their contributions to the team’s success.
If you were applying for a job and you knew the person who had the position prior to you thrived in the role but the company simply refused to pay him for all of his success, you would probably keep searching for more jobs at more respectable companies.
The Giants have to understand other players love Saquon and they’re watching how to see how New York is going to treat the guy who finished top 10 in rushing and touchdowns last year.
Does anyone else remember Week 4 against the Chicago Bears? The Giants won 20-12 thanks primarily to Saquon Barkley saving the day. Both Daniel Jones and backup QB Tyrod Taylor got injured so Saquon pretty much had to become the QB taking direct snaps from center.
It’s absurd that I even have to write this article. Yes, Saquon has suffered a lot of injuries in his career but that man played 16 games last season. He and Daniel Jones have a borderline unstoppable 2-man running game. He was instrumental in helping this team make the playoffs.
And he won’t be at training camp because the Giants are playing games with this man’s livelihood.
In a league where guys get paid exorbitant dollars following a year-long investigation into their desperate need to trick licensed massage therapists into touching their little wee-wees, it sucks to see a guy like Saquon—who by all accounts appears to be a good dude—have to beg to be compensated appropriately.
What’s the Saquon Barkley backup plan?
So what do the Giants have planned if Saquon holds out? New York selected running back Eric Gray in the 5th round of the draft. The Oklahoma back finished 4th in rushing yards and 4th in rushing touchdowns for the Big 12 last year.
Here are some random highlights to get you through these dark Saquon-less days:
Giants RB Eric Gray highlights
5th round pick out of Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/QJc3AYBkmG
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) April 29, 2023
Time to trick myself into believing Eric Gray is the future Madden cover athlete.
I hate you, Dave Gettleman.
Should the Giants give the bag to Saquon Barkley? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let’s get this man paid.
