The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley still have more than a month to get a new contract done. However, if that doesn’t happen, Barkley is willing to consider sitting out the entire 2023 NFL season.
The two sides have until July 17 to work out a long-term deal. If they fail to come to terms by then, Barkley would have to play out the 2023 campaign on a franchise tag. And he doesn’t seem motivated to do so at this point.
“I think that’s a conversation,” Barkley told reporters after being asked whether he would consider sitting out the season instead of playing on a franchise tag. “Like you said, that’s a card I could play. That comes up in conversation if something don’t get done by July 17.”
According to reports, the Giants previously offered Barkley a deal that would pay him $14 million annually, but the player’s representatives decided to reject the proposal. This led to some fans labeling Barkley as “greedy,” but the 26-year-old player says he doesn’t care about the money and just wants to feel respected.
“I said, ‘I want to be a Giant for life.’ This is where I want to be, and at the end of the day, it’s all about respect. That’s really what it is,” Barkley added.
Saquon Barkley finished the 2022 campaign rushing for career-high 1,312 yards while also having 10 touchdowns on the ground. He earned his second Pro Bowl nod.
