It was maybe too soon to look ahead in the immediate aftermath of the Giants’ playoff loss on Saturday night, but Saquon Barkley – who may have played his last game as a Giant – was able to sum up the disappointment of knowing the season was over.
"It sucks, because this was a fun team. Everything we were able to build this year, the way we played for each other this year, it was special,” Barkley said. “Obviously it didn't end the way we would have wanted it to end, but this is probably one of my favorite teams of all time. That's a sad thing about the NFL, no matter what the locker room is not going to be the exact same next year. So just happy to be able to go out there with these guys and lay it all out on the line and compete with them. It was a special bunch.”
Barkley would love to return, but in the immediate wake of the loss, all he would say about a potential return is that the ball is now in the Giants’ court.
"I don't want to jump to any conclusions. I've been vocal about how I feel and where I want to be, but that’s outside my control,” Barkley said. “I wanted to show the Giants that they guy they drafted is still here. I hope I did that. Everyone knows I would love to be a Giant for life, but that’s out of my control. "I couldn't imagine that being the last time being in a Giants uniform, but that's just the nature of the business. Sometime this week, I’ll have a conversation with my agent, and see what’s up."
Come Sunday, when the Giants cleaned out their lockers at the team facility, Barkley was asked more about his contract thoughts than his location thoughts, and his word for his contract demands was “realistic.”
"I'm not really concerned about resetting a market. I'm realistic,” he said. “I know what I was on pace to do but having two years of injuries and not being able to perform to the level I can perform doesn't help. But, I think I was able to show the caliber of player I am on the football field. That as my goal and I was able to accomplish that. Now I’ll sit down with my agent and see."
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In terms of what his market should be, well, his quarterback, also a free agent to be, thinks it’s as high as can be.
“I think he’s the best running back in the league, and I think he proved that this year to everyone,” Daniel Jones said. “He showed what he’s capable of doing as a dynamic playmaker, and I’m happy for him. He was able to stay healthy, which was a big part of that, but he deserves everything that’s ahead of him – and as a teammate and a friend, I’m proud, and certainly not surprised by his success.”
And, it seems, Barkley had the most fun in the league, too.
“It’s not even the record or being in the playoffs, it’s how much fun it was. That helped build the team,” Barkley said. "It felt like more of a college vibe. These are guys you're going to be friends with for the rest of your lives. It’s a special group, and this was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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