The notion of a “make or break” season is a cliché you hear thrown around a lot in sports, but for Saquon Barkley, it really is true heading into 2022. Not only is Barkley’s fifth year in the NFL his last under guaranteed contract with the Giants, it’s also a chance for him to show that the prowess he displayed as a rookie, as the No. 2 pick in the 2018 Draft, is still there now two years past his torn ACL.
"The last two years not going how I wanted, I kind of have been reflecting on that," Barkley said during his first training camp media session. "Everything happens for a reason. So, the adversity, the injuries that were put in my way these last two years, God has a bigger plan and it's all going to work out. So, coming up on this year, year five, for me I just want to show the Giants that the guy that they drafted is still here. I can still go out there and make the plays and help my team be successful. That's the only thing I am focused on. Take care of myself, take care of my body, take care of my mental, and try to be the best teammate I can be."
Barkley’s rookie year saw him catch a Giants and NFL RB rookie record 91 balls, amass over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, and earn a Pro Bowl nod and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. But he regressed a bit in Year 2, suffered the torn ACL just two games into Year 3, and then struggled with injuries and inconsistency last year – and in 28 games over the last three seasons, he has barely surpassed his rookie totals with his collective efforts since.
The 2022 season is indeed time for him to show that fire and talent is still there, so he’s just focusing on controlling what he can control and being in the best shape possible – and whatever happens, happens.
"I know what I am capable of doing and I know the talent that I have. The way I kind of think of it is the same mindset I had when I first came into the league, when everyone asked me what my expectations are, and this and that. The way I look at life is if I take care of the little things and take it day by day the rest will take care of itself and control what I can control,” Barkley said. “In the last couple of years, a lot of things have been out of my control, specifically injuries, just some freak accidents. But I know the work that I put in and how hard I train. How I challenge my body and challenge my mind, so I know what I'm capable of doing.
For me, I can't look too far into the future, I can't get caught up in what I think I’m going to do. I have to focus on getting my work in, going home and getting some good sleep and letting my body recover, and then worrying about the next day. If I can have that mindset and take care of that, the rest will take care of itself."
One thing he does hope to do, though, is get back to being that versatile back he was as a rookie. Barkley was five yards behind Devontae Booker in terms of receiving yards by a back and total yards from scrimmage, but Booker is gone and Barkley hopes to take a more active role in all aspects.
"I just want to be a versatile player and do whatever I can to help the team win," Barkley said "Whatever coach asks me to do, I'm going to go out there and try my best at it. Whatever I need to work on, continue to work on, and just evolve my game. That's something I want to do, become an overall better player, and I think this offense is giving me the opportunity to do that, so I'm thankful and blessed to have that. So, for me, I've just got to take advantage of it by getting in the facility taking extra meeting time and learning the playbook."
So far, new head coach Brian Daboll is liking that strategy.
“You see him running around here; he's a pretty skilled player, and our job is to figure out ways to use him,” Daboll said. “When you're developing in a system, you kind of figure out what these guys do best, and you challenge them to do more. And if it doesn't look great, then you see if you want to keep pursuing it. And if you want to keep pursuing it, then you've got to get them better. And if not, then you just throw it away and do something else."
"They’re very creative," Barkley added of Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. "All the offensive coaches are very creative. We've got a lot of weapons and talented guys on both sides of the ball. We've just got to keep coming in, keep learning, and keep getting better every single day."
And in Barkley’s case, as one of the elder statesmen on the offense – only Sterling Shepard has been with the Giants longer – continue to develop into a leader.
"I'm 25 now, in year five and one of the older guys in the building," he said. "I've been through a lot of ups and downs, but I got to use that to my advantage. I can use that to lead. Especially with some of the adversity that I've had to deal with in the last couple of years. I think that it's not only helped me as an athlete but just as a person, as a man, as a brother, and as a teammate. Just trying to be there and lead the best I can through the stuff I've learned through the previous four years and the stuff I will continue to learn."
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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