Saquon Barkley had some interesting comments for the media this week, perhaps the most questionable his thought that ‘loyalty means nothing’ in the NFL and he’s learned that “no matter how loyal, no matter how committed you are, it's a business at the end of the day.”
Read into that what you want, but it sure seems like Barkley is resigned to the fact that his career in New York is likely over in the next two months?
“That did sound like a guy who has loved being here,” Evan said.
“I think he's loved being here and having the success that he's had here,” Tiki replied. “I'm not gonna rewrite his history, but that answer didn't sound like he's only thinking about staying with the Giants. Prior to this year, that’s all you heard: ‘I want to be a Giant for life.’ This is the first time I’ve heard him sound like that.”
Barkley, as we know, failed to agree with the team on a long-term deal last year, then held out from signing his franchise tender until finally agreeing to a one-year contract worth just slightly more than that.
So, Tiki doesn’t necessarily think Saquon has changed his thoughts on staying here forever, only that now he realizes that is, as it usually is in the NFL, the less-likely option.
“I don't think he's changed his desire, I just think he knows what's been offered to him,” Tiki said.
“That sounds like a guy who, understandably is a little, like, screw this,” Evan replied.
“I mean, that's kind of what it is,” Tiki shot back. “If someone offers him a better deal, I think he's gone.”