Saquon Barkley hasn’t been able to feel fully secure in New York for some time, with the increasing uncertainty over his future with the Giants hanging over his head like a cloud.
When the Giants decided to pay Daniel Jones160 million dollars over four years it was clear the direction in which the team was going.
Jones would be the focal point of their offense and would, as such, take a significant portion of the team’s salary cap space moving forward.
Barkley’s deal expires at the end of the current season, and he is facing the possibility that the team moves on from him, despite his insistence that he wants to stay in the Big Apple.
“I’m just thankful for everything. You know, I try to stay really focused on that,” Barkley declared.
“Just being blessed. Another day of life. I have a beautiful family, a healthy family.
I wake up and I play a child’s game and I get paid a lot of money for it.
“So, I don’t get caught up in it too much and all the other stuff. I’m just really thankful that I’m able to do what I’m able to do.”
The Giants are unlikely to be able to afford to offer the running back the huge contract that his talent demands.
A lot of teams are becoming more concerned about the longevity of elite running backs, especially when the see the damage that long-term deals for other star rushers have done to other teams.
Dallas were in a real mess by the time they could cut Ezekiel Elliott, yet at one time he was considered to be the team’s best rushing prospect since the days of Emmitt Smith.
The physical toll that playing the position takes on the human body is so severe that players are often burnt out by the age of 25 or 26.
Whilst Barkleyis still producing at an excellent level, New York are left facing the possibility that his form and condition will drop off a cliff and they will be lumbered with a very heavy contract for years to come.
