Cross-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux shared in January 2024 that he felt the New York Giants ought to’ve locked working again Saquon Barkley down through a brand new contract earlier than the membership signed quarterback Daniel Jones in March 2023. Thibodeaux and others later watched as Barkley joined the rival Philadelphia Eagles final offseason, serving to them attain Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Understandably, Thibodeaux is amongst New York gamers feeling combined feelings as Barkley and the Eagles put together to face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs this Sunday.
“I hate the Eagles, man,” Thibodeaux not too long ago informed Paul Schwartz of the New York Put up. “However on a private degree, tremendous pleased with Saquon, tremendous pleased with what he’s been in a position to do. I believe all people has their personal trials and tribulations and mountains to climb, and he’s been climbing his, so undoubtedly, I’m not rooting for the Eagles, however I’m rooting for him.”
Quite a few analysts, reporters and followers have taken shots on the Giants for letting Barkley attain free company roughly 11 months in the past. Whereas Large Blue ended the season at 3-14, Barkley will enter Thursday night time’s NFL Honors as a finalist for the AP Offensive Participant of the Yr and regular-season Most Helpful Participant Awards. The 27-year-old, a part of only one playoff win throughout his Giants tenure from 2018-2023, might hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy whereas carrying Eagles inexperienced as quickly as Sunday night time.
“I’m pleased with Saquon,” Giants extensive receiver Jalin Hyatt informed Scott Thompson of Fox Information Digital this week. “After I got here in as a rookie when he was right here [with the Giants in 2023], he was like an enormous bro for me. Serving to me by the ability, serving to me by performs on the sphere. Simply actually being a pacesetter for me, and I’ve a lot respect for him for that. Simply to see what he’s doing over there with the Eagles, I’m actually not shocked what he’s doing. He’s a particular participant. I am undoubtedly going to be rooting for him for certain for what he can do. I’m simply pleased with him.”
Before Week 18 of this season, unnamed players publicly acknowledged that they felt “Barkley’s presence within the locker room was underestimated by the Giants’ brass” when basic supervisor Joe Schoen determined to not match Barkley’s contract requests. Barkley might now cement himself as the best offseason acquisition in Eagles historical past by main the crew to a championship, maybe because the MVP of the upcoming Tremendous Bowl.
“It’s robust as a result of all of us perceive it is a enterprise,” Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke informed Schwartz. “The delight and love now we have for being a New York Large, on the finish of the day now we have a crew proprietor, now we have a basic supervisor, now we have lots of people within the finance division upstairs who cope with the numbers outdoors of the Xs and Os of soccer. So there’s that facet of it. We now have a whole lot of love and respect for Saquon, for the management he confirmed when he was a Large and the performs that he made.”
Debates about whether or not or not Schoen ought to’ve prevented Barkley from hitting the open market final March might proceed lengthy after this Sunday’s recreation concludes. For now, all Okereke and his present teammates can do is surprise what might’ve been had the Giants given Barkley extra assist over the primary six seasons of his profession.
