Tommy DeVito sends Giants message over Saquon Barkley

New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley recently generated headlines when he acknowledged during an interview he can see himself "in another uniform" assuming the club lets him reach free agency in March. 

Somewhat lost in the piece produced by Zion Olojede of Complex was the fact that quarterback and fan-favorite Tommy DeVito campaigned for the Giants to pay Barkley this offseason. 

"I want them to call the Brink's truck and come drop off the cash at the front door," DeVito told Olojede about the Giants-Barkley relationship. DeVito added that Barkley, a team captain, is "the best teammate in the NFL" and "the best teammate that I've ever been around in my life."

Interestingly, the Complex piece was posted the same week as a podcast episode that featured Giants pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux saying he felt that Barkley "should have got paid first" last offseason instead of quarterback Daniel Jones. 

After Barkley's camp rejected what was reported to be "a three-year deal in the $13M per season range," Jones signed a four-year contract in March that allowed the Giants to retain the ball-carrier's rights for 2023 via the non-exclusive franchise tag.

It reportedly would cost Giants general manager Joe Schoen roughly $12.1M for 2024 if Barkley stayed with the club on a second franchise tag. While DeVito wants Barkley to remain with Big Blue, the New Jersey native indicated he'd rather see the 2018 first-round draft pick hit the open market than be tagged again.

"...Somebody call the bank because the bank is coming because this man needs to get paid," DeVito said about Barkley. "You're my man, you're my man for real. Now you can come run it back and we can get right. But at the same time, I want you to get your paper, you know what I mean?"

Barkley suggested last year he could sit games out without a long-term contract but ultimately signed an adjusted one-year tag to report to training camp on time. It's unclear if the 26-year-old would participate in the early days of camp on the tag this coming summer.