Saquon Barkley was the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and had a successful rookie season with the New York Giants, becoming a fan favorite. However, contract negotiations between his representatives and the Giants front office fell through, leading Barkley to enter free agency for the first time in his career. He ultimately signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, a move that will likely change Giants fans’ perception of him as he returns to MetLife Stadium as an opponent for the first time.
Despite the potential for backlash from Giants fans, Barkley does not expect to be booed when he takes the field as an Eagle. He believes that the rivalry between the Giants and Eagles predates his time with the teams and will continue after he is gone. Barkley also expressed that he believes any negative emotions surrounding his departure from the Giants have largely subsided, and he is focused on moving forward and making plays on the field for his new team.
Leading up to the game against the Giants, Barkley has visualized scoring a touchdown and is mentally preparing himself for the matchup. While the Giants did have discussions with Barkley during the offseason, it appears that they did not offer him a contract extension, which was highlighted on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” Giants co-owner and CEO John Mara expressed concern over Barkley potentially joining the Eagles, highlighting the importance of the rivalry between the two teams.
Despite the change in team allegiance, Barkley maintains positive relationships with his former Giants teammates, staying in touch with many of them. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones admitted that seeing Barkley in an Eagles uniform was a bit strange, as he was used to seeing him in Giants colors on the field. The Giants and Eagles game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see how Barkley performs against his former team and how fans react to his return to MetLife Stadium.
