Saquon Barkley has not been part of the New York sports landscape for seven months, yet it appears he has forgotten how everything works.
The former Giants running back will return to his old stomping grounds at MetLife Stadium on Sunday for the first time since signing with the rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency back in March. Regardless of Big Blue’s stance on practically showing him the door during contract negotiations that spanned two years, it is all but certain that Barkley will get a rude reception from Giants fans.
The man himself, however, does not necessarily think so.
“I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed,” Barkley said (h/t Joradn Raanan, ESPN). “I look at it like this: The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Football Giants probably played in over 200 games. This rivalry was there before me, and it’s going to be there after me.
“Maybe I’m naive, but I think it’s over. That chapter’s closed. I truly don’t care no more, and I’m pretty sure fans don’t care no more.”
Naive is the perfect word for it. This is a fan base that has mercilessly booed its team countless times over the last decade of overwhelming ineptitude. To think that he will be treated lightly coming into MetLife Stadium wearing enemy colors is almost ignorant.
It is also a nightmare coming to fruition for Giants fans. Barkley was supposed to be a franchise savior when he was drafted second overall in 2018.
In his six years with the Giants, he looked every part of the superstar when he was healthy. Of course, staying on the field was his biggest challenge. He played 16 or more games in a season just twice with New York, rushing for 5,211 yards in 74 games with 35 rushing touchdowns.
He signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the NFC East-rival Eagles just hours after the start of free agency and is on pace to have a career season. In five games, he has rushed for 482 yards (96.4 yards per game) with five total touchdowns.
