New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley laid out what his next steps could be under the franchise tag.
“My leverage is I could say, ‘f–k you’ to the Giants, I could say, ‘f–k you to my teammates,’” Barkley said on ‘The Money Matters Podcast‘ last week, just ahead of Monday’s deadline to sign a new long-term contract.
“And be like, ‘You want me to show you my worth? You want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won’t show up. I won’t play a down.’ And that’s a play I could use.”
Barkley and the Giants couldn’t agree on a long-term contract before the deadline. He’s scheduled to play on the franchise tag next year, worth $10.091 million for running backs in 2023.
The 26-year-old isn’t expected to report to training camp. During the ‘The Money Matters Podcast,’ Barkley expressed that he could sit out the 2023 season.
“Anybody (who) knows me knows that’s not something I want to do,” Barkley said. “Is it something that’s crossed my mind? I never thought I would ever do that, but now I’m at a point where I’m like, ‘Jesus, I might have to take it to this level.’”
He added: “Am I prepared to take it to this level? I don’t know. That’s something I have to sit down and talk to my family, talk to my team (of advisers), and strategize about this.”
The Penn State product also said he rejected a contract offer from the Giants during the team’s bye week. He added that he believes he’s the best running back in the league but isn’t looking to be the highest-paid rusher.
“I know what Derrick Henry signed for, I know what (Nick) Chubb signed for, I know what Dalvin Cook’s contract previously was, I know what Christian McCaffrey’s contract is – he’s the highest,” Barkley said.
“I’m not even asking to be the highest paid. In my belief, I believe I’m the best running back in the NFL.”
Barkley ran for 1,312 yards last campaign, the most he’s recorded in a single season since being drafted second overall in 2018. His 1,650 scrimmage yards ranked third in the league behind wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Chubb.
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