Whats next for Saquon Barkley and the Giants

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has long insisted that he wants to be "a Giant for life." But now it feels like a life without the for Barkley is only a matter of time.Barkleys long-term future with the team is very unclear after he and the Giants failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract by the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Monday for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals. After nine months of sporadic talks, both sides moved closer in the final hours, according to a source, but the movement was "not nearly enough" to get it done.That e sentially forces Barkley to play the 2023 season on the $10.1 million franchise tag, unle s Goran Dragic Jersey he chooses to sit out the season. Though no one outside of Barkleys camp seriously expects that to happen, hes already said a season-long holdout is something he would consider.Much more likely, according to a source, is that Barkley wont report to training camp until sometime in late August or even early September, likely just in time to get in a few practices before the Giants opener against the on Sept. 10. That could create a problematic distraction for a team hoping to build on the good vibes from its surprise playoff appearance last year. Read more: So how did it get this far with the Giants and one of their best players? And what does it all mean for this season and the future? Heres a breakdown of a complicated situation that eventually may push Barkley out of New York.Did they even come close to a long-term contract?It depends on the definition of "close", but it certainly doesnt sound like it. The Giants have always been comfortable letting Barkley play out the season on the franchise tag and then deciding on his long-term future next offseason. The guaranteed money was the key to any deal and, in the end, the Giants offered more than $22 million in guarantees, according to a source the total price of franchise tags in each of the next two seasons. But they were only willing to offer that much if there were other conce sions in the deal, a source said, including a le ser average value in the contract.The Giants went way out of their financial comfort zone in February when they signed quarterback to a four-year, $160 million deal. They werent willing to do that with Barkley, not when they had the franchise tag as leverage.What are Barkleys options now?He only has two: He can sign the franchise tag and play the season on a one-year, $10.1 million deal, or he can sit out the 2023 season.Would Barkley really sit out the entire season?The people in his camp certainly want everyone to think he might. You can expect lots of leaks this summer that hes preparing to do just that. Is it realistic? Not really, because its crazy. If Barkley sat out the season, hed lose a year of his prime at age 26, plus the $10.1 million. And hed gain nothing because the Giants could just franchise him again next year for close to the same price. Hed be in the exact same position, only hed be a year older and hed have given up $10.1 million in earnings.Yes, it worked out for LeVeon Bell when he sat out the 2018 season, the Steelers decided to not re-tag him and he got a four-year, $52.5 million deal from the Jets with $35 million in guaranteed money in 2019. But that worked out so badly for the Jets its hard to imagine any team would repeat that mistake, especially in an environment where running backs are being devalued.Will Barkley sit out training camp?Yes Duncan Robinson Jersey . Definitely. He will not be there when the rest of his team reports on Tuesday, July 25, a source said. His representatives are already leaking that he wont be back until Week 1, and theres no reason not to believe them. He doesnt start getting paid until the regular season starts, and since hes not under contract he cant be fined for mi sing camp.As long as he thinks he can be ready for the opener, theres not much incentive for him to show up in camp at all.What would he gain by doing that?Well, nothing really, except some time at home or with his own personal trainer. Its really just to make a statement of some sort. Barkley cant force the Giants hand with a holdout because theyre not allowed to offer him anything other than the tag until after their last regular season game on Jan. 7, 2024.Do the Giants want to eventually sign him long-term?Yes and no. They understand his value, both on and off the field, but this new regime under General manager Joe Schoen doesnt value running backs the way former GM Dave Gettleman did. Theyre willing to give him a long-term deal, but on their financial terms. In fact, according to a source, they think offering more than $22 million in guarantees was a pretty big stretch for them and not something they intended to do when negotiations started.So yes, if they could get Barkley locked up for three or four years theyd be happy with that, if the terms were right for them.If they dont sign him long term, will he be a free agent next March?Not nece sarily. The Giants could use the franchise tag on him for a second year in a row this time for $12.1 million. Whether theyd be willing to spend that much on a 27-year-old running back, though, would be totally dependent on how Barkley performs this season and how healthy he is when its over.What leverage does Barkley have left?Really, none. He could sit out the season, hope the Giants crash and burn and that it proves to them how valuable he really is. But again, the Giants could just use the franchise tag on him then, too. And theyd have all the leverage back at that point because theyd know Barkley isnt dumb enough to sit out a second season. That would basically be throwing away his career.But arent the Giants in a lot of trouble without him?Probably. He and Jones were the Giants offense last season, and even with a slightly improved group of skill players around him, Jones will probably be a lot le s effective without Barkley in the backfield. Maybe with a backfield committee of Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray they could generate a decent rushing attack. But it probably wont be enough to power a playoff push.Unfortunately, theres nothing the Giants can do about that now. Its completely up to Barkley when or if he shows up. Theres no offer or conce sions the Giants can make to lure him back.So how will this all end?Not well. Barkley is not very happy with how this was resolved. Hell sit out the summer and, most likely, show up for the regular season, but its hard to imagine hes going to hide his unhappine s. That will loom over everything this season, and could make it really difficult for him if he struggles.As for his long-term future, dont be so sure the Giants will tag him again. And if they didnt offer him the kind of long-term deal he wants KZ Okpala Jersey now, its hard to imagine their position on that will change when hes a year older. Its much more likely that, for Barkley and the Giants, this summer of discontent will be the beginning of the end.Ralph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports, covering the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him Twitter at. NFL trending in this topic
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