Saquon Barkley On His Long-Term Contract Prospects with the New York Giants

• Sports

At his AMPT football camp, Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants' stand-out running back, engaged in a candid discussion about his prospective long-term contract. Barkley expressed an openness to negotiations and underlined the importance of respect in the ongoing process.

"There is no rush"

When questioned about his optimism for securing a new deal with the Giants, Barkley's answer was straightforward, albeit shrouded in uncertainty. "I don't know. I don't know," he confessed, yet quickly added that both parties were open to conversation.

His perspective seemed to embrace patience and a focus on the bigger picture, as he referred to the looming date of July 17, the NFL's deadline for teams to agree on a long-term contract with players given the franchise tag.

"I think at the end of the day, if you really break it down and look at it as a whole, there is no rush. There is still time on the table to get to July 17," Barkley said. He went on to admit that this viewpoint could be deemed naïve, but expressed hope that the Giants would work towards a resolution.

Between Respect and Reality

At the heart of Barkley's comments lay a clear message – for him, it's all about respect. This sentiment was evident as he spoke candidly about the difficulties of negotiating a new contract.

"At the end of the day, it's all about respect. That is really what it is," Barkley stressed. Barkley acknowledged the less pleasant aspects of contract negotiations, including the negative publicity that sometimes accompanies these talks.

The narratives that emerged, particularly about him being tagged, have been frustrating to the star running back. "What really got me upset were the stories that got leaked out and how misleading they were and how untruthful they were.

They tried to paint a narrative of me that is not even true. Not even close to being the truth," he stated. Barkley confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter his aim remains to be "compensated respectfully based on my contributions to the team on the field and in the locker room." For Barkley, the contract negotiations have underscored the harsh reality of professional football as a business.

"Just come to the reality that this is a business," he admitted. Nonetheless, Barkley remains hopeful about his future with the Giants. He affirmed his active engagement in talks with the team throughout the offseason and his readiness to sign if a fair deal emerges.

"If at some point there's a deal that is fair to both sides on the table, I'll be ready to sign," Barkley concluded.