Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is getting paid what he deserves and he wants fans, including Tiki Barber, to be happy for him.
After signing a three-year deal worth up to $46.75 million with $26 million guaranteed with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month, Barber went on an unnecessary rant about Barkley betraying New York.
“You're dead to us, Saquon. Good luck, you’re dead to me," Barber, a former Giants running back himself, said on WFAN Sports Radio.
Barkley recently joined the Kelce brothers on their New Heights podcast where he admitted that he found it hard to understand why someone like Tiki, who knows how unfair the running back market is, couldn't simply be happy for him and his new contract.
"That was my big thing with Tiki," Barkley said. "You're an ex-running back. I get fans being upset about me going to Philly. First of all, the Giants didn't even offer me. But Tiki ... Maybe use that time to show, ‘Maybe this is why Saquon is going to Philly’ … the business side of it, use that to show, I’m not saying you got to have loyalty to me because I don’t care for that, to be honest, but you are an ex-NFL player, an ex-NFL athlete, don’t feed into the B.S., let fans do that, they’re supposed to do that, they’re emotional.”
Barkley was initially drafted out of Penn State by the Giants in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He reeled in 5,211 total yards on 1,201 receptions and 35 touchdowns through six seasons with New York.
He also made two Pro Bowls (2018, 2022).
Barkley reiterated that he understood why fans were upset about losing him, but emphasized that it was a business move.
"Honestly, if fans wouldn't be mad that I went from New York to Philly," Barkley said, "that means I did nothing when I was in New York."
He also said the move was just as surprising to him as it was to fans.
“I probably never imagined myself playing for Philly six years ago," Barkley said, "but I get to come back to Pennsylvania. My family is from Pennsylvania — my lady, our kids, grandmas, all that is from Pennsylvania — and we’re already close, and we can even get closer and get a chance to compete.
"I got to admire them from afar, admire what he [Howie Roseman] was able to build over there and get to be part of that culture. It was a no-brainer for me.”
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