Shortly after being called and informed that he had been traded to the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hung up with general manager Dave Gettleman and Facetimed running back Saquon Barkley.
With the news fresh in his mind, Beckham attempted to collect his thoughts and emotions, and gave Barkley one last bit of advice as his teammate.
“We talked over Facetime, he had just gotten traded, so I don’t think he was really happy about it,” Barkley told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. “He just gave me some advice about how to handle stuff in the league. He was the same old big brother to me that he’s always been.
“I [am] sad to see him go. But, hopefully he continues to have a great career there in Cleveland.”
With Beckham now gone, Barkley recognizes the need for leadership in the locker-room and intends to grow into that role.
“I have to grow as a leader more,” Barkley said. “Whether it’s being a vocal leader or leading by example, it’s a team effort. We have to have other players grow as leaders, continue to believe in each other.”
Both on and off the field, Barkley is now the face of the Giants’ franchise. And while that’s an immense amount of pressure for a young player, perhaps Barkley’s calm demeanor can help steady the rough waters in East Rutherford.
