Giants legend expands on Saquon Barkley joining rival Eagles

Giants legend Tiki Barber and Saquon Barkley exchanged words on social media on Monday after the running back reportedly agreed to a contract to join the Eagles after the new league year begins Wednesday. 

Barber further addressed Barkley's move to an NFC East rival during Tuesday's WFAN "Evan and Tiki" program. 

"I think over the last 10 years or so, maybe it’s the money, the exposure, social media, but there was a time when it felt like athletes hated each other," Barber explained, according to Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "The rivalry between the Eagles and us, when I was with the Giants, it was real."

Barber featured for the Giants from 1997 through the 2006 season and said last week that it was "insulting" to Barkley's "Giant history and legacy" that he "would even contemplate going to play for that team in Philadelphia." After it was learned that Barkley plans to relocate to Philly via a three-year, $37.75M contract worth up to $46.75M with $26M fully guaranteed at signing, Barber claimed that the 27-year-old was "dead" to Giants fans. 

Barkley responded via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and seemingly referenced how Barber publicly criticized head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning when the retired back was an NFL analyst for NBC during the 2007 season. Barkley also said Barber had "been a hater since I got to New York." 

Barber reacted on Tuesday afternoon to WFAN co-host Evan Roberts' insistence that certain modern professional athletes "do not understand that rivalries exist" in the eyes of fans. 

"When rivalries don’t matter, what the hell are we doing it for?" Barber added during the show segment. "Where’s the energy and emotion come from? Just to play the game, get a paycheck, get first downs or score touchdowns? What’s the point if there’s no rivalry?" 

Interestingly, Barber offered his comments not long after ESPN's Marcus Spears reported that linebacker Patrick Queen was leaving the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent to sign with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.