Saquon Barkley contract next move explained as Derrick Henry sends NFL message
Saquon Barkley, the star running back for the New York Giants, is facing a contract feud with the team that could potentially result in him sitting out the entire 2023 season.
After failing to reach an agreement on a multi-year contract extension before the deadline, Barkley expressed his frustration on Twitter, saying, "It is what it is." Now, it seems that Barkley is prepared to take a stand and potentially hold out.
The Giants reportedly offered Barkley a three-year deal with $22 million guaranteed, which he deemed inadequate. Feeling disrespected in the negotiations, Barkley is expected to skip mandatory training camp and potentially the entire season in protest before becoming a free agent, reports the Express US.
His brief response on social media suggests that he is ready to fight for what he believes he deserves.
Barkley is not alone in his contract dispute. Two other star running backs, Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, also did not sign new contracts before the deadline.
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They now face the choice of playing under a one-year franchise tag or not playing at all. Their situation has garnered support from other running backs in the league who are frustrated with the financial market for their position.
Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans took to Twitter to express his solidarity with Barkley, Pollard, and Jacobs, saying: "At this point, just take the RB position out the game then. The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization, just seems like it don't even matter. I'm with every RB that's fighting to get what they deserve."
Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris also voiced his support, adding: "I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL - history will show that you need running backs to win - we set the tone every game and run through walls for our team and lead in many ways - this notion that we deserve less is a joke."
Saquon Barkley is facing a contract feud with the New York Giants (Getty)All three running backs, including Barkley, had successful seasons in 2022, rushing for over 1,000 yards and being 26 years old or younger. It is concerning for the position group if they are unable to secure satisfactory deals from the teams that drafted them.
Barkley, in particular, has been a key component of the Giants' offense since being drafted as the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Last season, he recorded 1,650 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns, helping the Giants reach the playoffs. His impact on the team cannot be understated, making his contract dispute a significant issue for the organization.
This situation highlights a larger problem within the running back market. Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers, who led the league in all-purpose yards in the past two seasons, recently expressed his frustration with the industry.
He compared his value to that of backup receivers who earn more than him, despite him being the starter and having a greater impact on the game. Ekeler's comments reflect the ongoing battle for running backs to be compensated fairly for their contributions.
While Barkley has not officially confirmed whether he will hold out, it is widely reported that he will do so. He has expressed disappointment in the circumstances surrounding his contract negotiations and the misleading stories that have been leaked. Barkley wants to set the record straight and ensure that his true intentions are understood.
This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up Mirror.co.uk ’s editorial research. A content editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected] .
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