Longtime Eagles rival Saquon Barkley mentions sitting out as a card he's considering playing

What if we told you that after missing all but two games in 2020, working his way back from injury in 2021, and earning his second Pro Bowl nod last season that there was a chance the Philadelphia Eagles could avoid Saquon Barkley altogether in 2023? Perhaps you have heard. There's a bit of a stalemate in the Big Apple, and the New York Giants' best player, Saquon Barkley, doesn't seem to be happy.

Last time we saw them, the G-Men enjoyed a good season under new head coach Brian Daboll. They qualified for the postseason. They won a playoff game, and the reinvigorated a staving fan base.

The offseason began, and the Giants went to work in an attempt to make their team better. They signed Darren Waller. Cornerback Deonte Banks, center John Michael Schmitz, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, running back Eric Gray, and cornerback Tre Hawkins III were among their draft picks, but there's a major issue. Negotiations with Barkley aren't leading to anything promising, and he is visibly upset, especially after seeing Daniel Jones earn an extension in March.

It appears there's a possibility that the Eagles might avoid Saquon Barkley in their games versus the Giants.

Saquon Barkley has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the Philadelphia Eagles since he arrived in the NFL, but unlike Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, his presence hasn't led Big Blue to any disheartening wins over Philly like the aforementioned Cowboys duo have hung a few Ls on the Birds' ledger.

The Giants are 1-7 versus the Eagles with Saquon in the lineup. That includes their last meeting in the Divisional Round of the most recent postseason.

The losses aren't Saquon's fault. He has run for 550 yards on 106 carries. He has racked up 216 yards on 31 receptions and has reached the end zone four times, but right now, he's an unhappy man.

He wants a new deal. He isn't happy with what the Giants have offered. He was a no-show for day one of their mandatory minicamp (He won't be punished as he has no extension and hasn't signed his franchise tender). If push comes to shove, he seemingly has no issue with sitting out of the coming season. Thank Around the NFL Writer Kevin Patra for the quote.

"(Sitting out is) a card I could play. That comes up in conversation if something don’t get done by July 17… We got a little bit of time in between there. When that date comes up, then I’ll have to sit down with my team, sit down with my family and make decisions. See what we’re going to do. What’s the next game plan? What’s the next move?"

Welp... We'll see what happens, won't we? The Giants have until July 17th to get a deal done. The Birds have had the Giants' number for a while. That will continue in 2023, but if Saquon Barkley isn't in the lineup, winning will become easier for Philly.

We'll see what happens. The regular season is months away, but if the G-Men and Birds cross paths and their best player on offense isn't in the lineup, we can make you a promise and mean this sincerely. You won't hear a complaint from us.