Saquon Barkley didn’t make any bold statements or criticize the Giants in his only public comment as the 4 p.m. deadline for the two sides to reach an agreement on a multi-year contract came and went on Monday. 

“It is what it is,” Barkley tweeted six minutes before the deadline as news began to spread that the Giants and their star running back wouldn’t reach a deal. 

The two sides appeared to work down to the wire to try and get a contract done, but Barkley now joins fellow backs Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard as players who will have to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag — if he does indeed play this upcoming season. 

Pollard is the only one among the three who has signed his tender offer and Barkley is not expected to report to training camp.

The question remains whether Barkley might sit out the entire season, which he hadn’t ruled out earlier this offseason. 

“Now, that day comes up and I have to sit down and have that conversation, then I will sit down and have that conversation,” Barkley said during a youth football camp in June. 

“It’s a business,” Barkley added. “That’s the sad reality of it. I never thought it would have to be this difficult, come to this point, but I got tagged. And when you get tagged, they have all the leverage.”

The Giants running back had previously turned down a contract offer worth $13 million annually but with only $19.5 million guaranteed.

He also was offered a deal that upped the guaranteed money to $22 million but in exchange lowered the annual average value. 

Barkley is coming off a season in which he put up a career-best 1,312 rushing yards and recorded 10 touchdowns.

Despite the successful career year, Barkley has had to contend with a growing trend in the NFL where running backs’ value has decreased.