The question that was presented to Saquon Barkley on Wednesday, five days before the Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, had been asked before of the franchise running back and will continue to be asked.
Do you want to be a Giant for life?
It’s a question asked for good reason, because Barkley embodies everything it is to be a New York Giant … and to be a Giant for life.
The notion of being a one-team player is romantic. It’s what almost every player in the NFL wants. But those who remain with one team for an entire career, history has shown, are an anomaly. Even generational franchise players move on, because at the end of the day, it’s a cold business.
For a while this offseason, it looked as if Barkley would be forced to move on, as he and the Giants spent months trying in vain to negotiate a new contract after four years together.
Barkley, not wanting to miss training camp, which wouldn’t have benefitted him or the team, finally caved and signed a one-year, $11 million contract with $2 million paid up-front instead of playing for the $10.091 million franchise tag tender.
Though Barkley is hardly playing for rent money — his contract ranks third among NFL running backs — it’s not the security of the kind of long-term deal he wanted.
He’s coming off of a strong 2022 season, in which he rushed for 1,312 yards on 295 carries (both career highs), ran for 10 TDs and caught 57 passes for 338 yards. But that obviously wasn’t good enough to show Giants general manager Joe Schoen he was worth a long-term deal. So, perhaps an even more productive, if prolific, season in Year 2 of head coach Brian Daboll’s offense will convince Schoen to pry open the checkbook.
“I want to be able to take it to another level and be special,’’ Barkley said Wednesday after practice. “Everyone always talks about the legacy and the names on these walls in this locker room and in the indoor facility, and that’s what I want to be a part of. So, hopefully I can start off to a great start and go on a high note in Week 1.’’
Sunday night at MetLife would be a good time and place to start a new contract push for Barkley, who hasn’t had great success against the Cowboys. He has played against them eight times (all losses) and averaged 58 rushing yards, with two 100-yard games and only two TDs.
Barkley has repeatedly insisted that there are no “hard feelings’’ between him and Giants management over the contract thing. But human nature can be a strong beast.
“My back’s against the wall again,’’ Barkley said. “I’ve got to go out there and prove it, play my heart out, compete at a high level and do what I do best, not only for myself, but for my teammates.’’
His teammates worship him as the captain and emotional leader he is.
“He’s a humble, team-first guy when, for someone in his position, it would be very easy be selfish and standoffish,’’ receiver Darius Slayton told The Post. “From day he was drafted, he became the face of one of the biggest franchises on the planet. He’s done a great job of representing this franchise well since he’s been here — on and off the field.
“That’s why it feels like — obviously not the same level — but it’s like Eli Manning and the Giants. They’re synonymous together. You say ‘Eli Manning’ and you think ‘Giants.’ You say ‘Saquon Barkley’ and you think ‘Giants.’ ’’
Left tackle Andrew Thomas told The Post that Barkley playing in any uniform other than Giants blue is “something that’s hard to think about,’’ adding, “I hope that he’s with us [forever]. But he’s with us for this season, so I’m excited to see him this year.’’
That’s exactly the way Barkley — who told The Post’s Paul Schwartz on Aug. 27 of his desire to be a Giant for life, saying, “They know how I feel’’ — is approaching 2023.
“I think I would be doing a disservice to myself to get too caught up in my future and worrying about what’s going to happen and being a Giant for life,’’ he said. “I’ve got to live in the moment, I’ve got to live in the now and … let the rest take care of itself.’’
That will start Sunday night at MetLife.