The New York Giants are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2016, but 2023 is quickly off to a rocky start.
Saquon Barkley and the Giants failed to reach an agreement on a longterm contract extension ahead of Monday’s 4 p.m. Eastern Time deadline, meaning that Barkley would have to decide between playing on a one-year, $10.1 million franchise tag or holding out for the foreseeable future.
It’s looking like the latter.
The expectation, according to Giants beat writer Art Stapleton, is that Barkley will not report to training camp and he won’t sign the franchise tender to play on an expiring deal.
Right when that deadline passed, Barkley made it clear that no deal was reached.
It is what it is
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) July 17, 2023
He took to Twitter and posted, “It is what it is.”
Barkley was coming off his best season since suffering a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season. While teams rarely offer running backs lucrative longterm deals — the last being Nick Chubb in 2021 — Barkley was looking to break that trend before the deadline. It just didn’t work out that way.
Fans also had thoughts on Barkley’s reaction to the news.
This was how Twitter reacted
Position aside, Saquon Barkley is one of the Giants' very best football players, one who makes Daniel Jones much better, and a great franchise representative to boot. He is a New York Giant out of central casting. They should've slightly overpaid him more than anyone. https://t.co/PJaEFoqvHU
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) July 17, 2023
It's no deal before the deadline. See ya in September. 👋 https://t.co/esyYVIamEP
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) July 17, 2023
This does not seem like a tweet celebrating an extension… https://t.co/2GaOFCdTtQ
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) July 17, 2023
No deal for Saquon Barkley by the deadline. Worst-case scenarios now in play for both Giants and 26 https://t.co/XJPfpz8h6l
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) July 17, 2023
Whole tag ordeal is a shame because Saquon has been the epitome of a terrific Giant. Hard worker, plays through injuries, never complains, wants to win and so much more.
Worst part is now the beat reporters will ask questions about Saquon daily for the next two months. https://t.co/QIzzovk5Uu
— Bryan (@bryankelly_) July 17, 2023
Me after every slight inconvenience: https://t.co/YflCE4E6NU
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) July 17, 2023
Schoen did the right thing. https://t.co/jhz6ESr8Uq
— Spartan Mike (NYG) (@SpartanMike96) July 17, 2023
Yeah this is not great lol https://t.co/kI1SvLtVMc
— Nick Robbins (@nickrobbins12) July 17, 2023
The Yankees 2023 season https://t.co/Uiqu0nQDas
— Evan Daniel (@itsmrevandaniel) July 17, 2023
