Saquon Barkley has opened up about the tense contract negotiations with the New York Giants, which were showcased on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
In a teaser clip for the upcoming episode of The Athletic’s “Scoop City” podcast, set to release on Tuesday, Barkley discusses the pivotal phone call with Giants General Manager Joe Schoen that led him to believe his hopes of being a “Giant for life” were dashed.
During the phone call, Schoen suggested that Barkley test the market and return with his best offer so the Giants could match it. Barkley, however, felt that this conversation marked the end of his tenure with the team.
“It was over after that phone call, in my opinion,” Barkley told The Athletic. “I never in my heart truly believed that they were going to match it, or they only wanted me for a lower price. So no matter what, I probably wasn’t going to go back.”
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Ultimately, Barkley, 27, signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, which includes $26 million guaranteed. During the negotiations, Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry, informed Schoen that Barkley had received an offer averaging $12.5 million per year over three years, with $25 million guaranteed from another team.
Schoen then asked Berry if Barkley would remain a Giant if the team matched those numbers. According to Schoen, Berry was noncommittal, prompting Schoen to inform Giants owner John Mara about the situation on “Hard Knocks.”
At one point, Mara expressed his concern, saying, “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly, I’ll tell you that,” emphasizing Barkley’s popularity as the team’s most beloved player.
When Berry conveyed that the Giants would need to offer more than the competing figures, Schoen decided to pull the Giants out of the running. All parties involved were aware that their conversations might be featured on “Hard Knocks.”
Reflecting on the past season, Barkley, who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Giants in 2018, had a solid performance with 962 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns in 14 games.
As Barkley transitions to the Eagles, his revelations about the negotiation process provide an inside look at the complex and often emotional world of NFL contract talks.
His departure marks the end of an era for the Giants and the beginning of a new chapter for one of the league’s most dynamic running backs.
