Former Giants WR addresses Saquon Barkley-related jabs

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and his family haven't hidden their feelings about the New York Giants letting him reach free agency last March. This comes amid Philadelphia's successful season, which will end with a Super Bowl LIX matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Retired wide receiver Brandon Marshall featured for the Giants in 2017, shortly before the club made Barkley the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. During a recent chat with Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital, Marshall discussed why anybody associated with the Giants couldn't be mad about Barkley and Eagles fans enjoying the last laugh this winter. 

"It’s what comes with it," Marshall explained. "This is the big leagues. ...This is absolutely what comes with it. You had a generational talent in your building, and you knew it. It’s why you drafted him." 

The Giants routinely gave Barkley and his former teammates below-average offensive lines from 2018 through last season. Additionally, general manager Joe Schoen elected not to match Barkley's asking price during contract negotiations from the fall of 2022 until Schoen let the 27-year-old hit the open market a little over 11 months ago. 

While becoming the presumptive AP Offensive Player of the Year Award winner and a finalist for regular-season Most Valuable Player Award honors, Barkley trolled Giants co-owner John Mara via an ad that referenced what are now infamous comments Mara made about Barkley possibly signing with the Eagles. Earlier this month, Barkley's mother noted that her son is finally "somewhere where he [is] able to showcase his talent." 

On Thursday, Barkley mentioned how "depressed" he felt during his final season with the Giants. 

"It’s unfortunate that they weren’t able to surround Saquon with the right offensive line, with the right coordinators, with the right receivers," Marshall added about the Giants. "You insert [head coach] Brian Daboll, who I love to death, but it was way too late. Then, the whole market around the running back shifted." 

The truth is that a rebuilding Giants team probably made the right move in not overpaying to keep Barkley from joining the Eagles. Nevertheless, that won't make Mara or Giants fans feel any better about seeing Barkley hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy if Philadelphia defeats Kansas City on Feb. 9.