“Saquon Barkley has made it clear the franchise tag is undesirable. I’m told his availability for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys will be in serious question if he does not get a long-term deal from the Giants.'' - ESPN's Diana Russini.
FRISCO - New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley finds himself fighting two battles at the same time, one against the "lies'' regarding his contract dispute with the New York Giants and the other so contentious with those same Giants that is creates a "serious'' threat of him missing NFL Week 1 against the visiting Dallas Cowboys.
According to a report by ESPN’s Dianna Russini, “Saquon Barkley has made it clear the franchise tag is undesirable. I’m told his availability for Week 1 against the Cowboys will be in serious question if he does not get a long-term deal from the Giants.''
That would obviously be a boost to the Cowboys' desire to get ahead in the NFC East race ... and from a betting perspective, they're already there; the Giants are 3.5-point home underdogs against Dallas in Week 1 at SI Sportsbook.
The Cowboys are involved in their own dealings with a Pro Bowl running back as Tony Pollard, tagged like Barkley at $10 million, has until July 17 to create a new long-term contract or else he'll play under the terms of the tag. The difference, of course, is that Pollard signed his offer; Barkley has not, making it clear he is not happy about playing the 2023 season for $10.1 million while saying he might play the "card'' of sitting out the season.
Financially, that is generally viewed as unwise. But in Barkley's defense, he is coming off a healthy year in which he rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 57 receptions for 338 yards. He is generally viewed as the Giants' best player.
So what are the Giants offering? There's a rumor that New York has presented him with a contract worth $13 million per year and $26 million over the first two years while he was pushing for $16 million. Barkley, using the word "cap,'' is calling that rumor a lie.
"Cap. Lie. That is what Saquon's saying here," said ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan. "Barkley's continually taken exception to the idea he’s being greedy and turned down all this money. Most certainly wasn't offered $26 million guaranteed. Also he never thought $16 million per was realistic."
And what is "realistic'' now that training camps - and the Sept. 10 Cowboys-at-Giants opener - are on the horizon? Giants fans have their eyes on this. And so should Cowboys fans.
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