Saquon Barkley realized his perspective on the NFC East rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles changed when he saw his daughter dressed in Eagles green instead of Giants blue.
Even putting Eagles apparel, like the black hoodie with the logo near his left shoulder he wore Thursday before he was officially introduced as one of the newest Eagles, on himself felt weird.
“We’ve been on the worse side of the rivalry, I guess you could say, for the past couple of years,” Barkley said. “But I’m happy to be a Philadelphia Eagle.’
Since the Giants drafted him second overall in 2018, they were 3-10 (including the postseason) against the Eagles.
Barkley admitted his exit from New York could have been handled better. The 27-year-old said he had nothing but respect for Giants and the way they treated him over six years. Barkley agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles on Monday. He is coming off his healthiest and most productive two-year stretch in the league since his first two seasons in the NFL.
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‘I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could have gave a proper goodbye. Like I said, once I announced, it kind of got hectic. But yeah, I’m forever grateful for the Giants fans. So grateful for them. But unfortunately, the NFL is a business. And I was able to get to a place that I know I can compete, I can win. I can stay close to home.’
In New York, the Giants made the postseason in just one of his years on the team (2022) – which ended with a postseason loss to the Eagles.
Gaining a ‘fresh start,’ Barkley said, is something he is looking forward to.
‘I feel like I’m a rookie again,’ Barkley said.
He added: ‘I’m a special player. I feel like I’ve got a lot left. I got a lot to prove.’
Did Eagles tamper to sign Saquon Barkley?
Barkley is back playing football in his home state, which is also where he played collegiately for Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin. And it was Franklin who ensnarled his former player in a tampering investigation.
Franklin told reporters during his spring practice news conference Tuesday that Barkley spoke with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman about the crossover between Nittany Lions fans and Eagles fans. On Thursday, the league said it was opening a standard investigation into these types of instances where a player may be having impermissible contact with team officials, even during the legal tampering window.
Barkley also provided his own clarification.
“Coach Franklin, I think, misinterpreted it,’ he said. ‘The truth is, the pitch, the sell, was Penn State — how many Penn State fans are Eagles fans. But that was through my agent. My agent told me that.’