Every once in while a player comes along and leaves a lasting impression on a franchise. Such is the case of running back Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants.
Barkley was selected second overall by the Giants in the 2018 NFL draft and had a stellar six-year career with Big Blue, becoming a fan-favorite on and off the field.
But the NFL is a business, and sometimes a harsh one. Barkley was not offered a contract by the Giants and then signed on with the hated Philadelphia Eagles.
Still, the Giants hold no ill feelings. Head coach Brian Daboll knows that player movement is a necessary part of the NFL landscape.
“This is what it is every year in the NFL. You meet great people, whether it’s coaches, players, staff members, and unfortunately everybody doesn’t stick together the entire time, it’s not what it was 30, 40 years ago,” Daboll told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Saquon and all the players that went on to other places. It’s a special group when you’re going through an NFL season, you’ve got to go through ups and downs,” he added. “Wish him all the best, except when he is playing the Giants.”
The Giants will now move to a running-back-by-committee approach after signing Devin Singletary in free agency to pair with second-year back Eric Gray. They may also target a running back in the draft.
