


Giants general manager Joe Schoen couldn’t say Thursday whether running back Saquon Barkley would even be on the team for the 2023 NFL season, as the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Barkley received the $10.1 million franchise tag right after the Giants were able to strike a four-year, $160 million deal with quarterback Daniel Jones last month.
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The 26-year-old, who said at the end of the season he’d be “upset” with the tag, spoke for the first time Thursday since receiving the tag but did not reveal much about his future with the Giants.
“Where do I stand with the Giants right now? It’s like what someone said the other day … it’s still April,” Barkley told the Morning Call, perhaps referring to Giants head coach Brian Daboll’s comments last Monday.
“I haven’t had conversations with [Schoen] too much. So the best way I can handle it is to keep working. Whatever happens, happens. There are things I can’t really control right now. All I can control is how I will wake up every morning and stay with my goals and my passion. Even though I may not be with the team right now and not in the building, I don’t think anyone with the Giants is concerned about my work ethic and my teammates aren’t worried about how I’m preparing.”
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When asked Thursday if he was optimistic about Barkley starting next season with the team, Schoen said, “You have to ask him. I’m not sure. I don’t know what his plan is.”
Barkley has not signed his franchise tender and thus was not present last week for the start of the Giants’ voluntary offseason program.
In November, Barkley turned down a contract offer worth an average of $12.5 million a season, and after the season turned down an offer worth $13 million per year.
The Giants and Barkley have until July 17 to reach a long-term contract agreement.
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After that, teams cannot negotiate with players who were given the franchise tag until the season ends.
Barkley enjoyed a resurgence in 2022 under Daboll, rushing for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Giants won their first playoff game in 11 years, defeating the Vikings in the wild-card round before falling to the Eagles.
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Barkley seems to believe he can play even better.
“There’s still a version of 26 that a lot of people haven’t seen,” Barkley told the Morning Call.