As Saquon Barkley slipped on the black hoodie with the Eagles logo and dressed his daughter in the gear of his longtime rival, reality set in.
Barkley no longer has to worry about figuring out how to carry the Giants to upsets of the favored Eagles. He is an Eagle.
“We’ve been on the worse side of the rivalry, I guess you could say, for the past couple years,” Barkley said Thursday afternoon at an introductory press conference.
Really, Barkley needs no introduction in New York or Philadelphia spending the first six years of his career — one winning season — as the face of the Giants.
After 18 months of negotiating an extension with the Giants went nowhere, he agreed Monday to a three-year, $37.5 million free-agent contract with the Eagles.
Barkley has no regrets about his decision — just about the way he left.
“The Giants fans that were hurt by me leaving, I got nothing but love and respect for all those guys and all those ladies,” said Barkley, who announced his own signing by tweeting two Eagle emojis. “For the last six years they’ve been great to me and my family, created so many memories.
“I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could’ve gave a proper goodbye. Once I announced, things kind of got hectic. I’m forever grateful for Giants fans, but unfortunately the NFL is a business. I was fortunate to come to a place I know I can compete and I can win and I can stay close to home.”