The NFL has a huge problem on its doorstep! It’s not definitely new, however, this year even the likes of OJ Simpson locked horns against the league, demanding long-term contracts with better pay for fellow running backs. The former RB even touched on one of the hottest topics in town, Saquon Barkley, who’s been in a standoff with the Giants for a while now. The 26-year-old RB coveted a long-term deal with his team, and the deadline for it was July 17.

Unfortunately, it’s obvious that the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement with the deadline coming to an end only a few days ago. This leaves only a few options, and one of them is agreeing to a franchise tag. In protest, the determined RB took to social media to make his feelings known. He’s not backing down!

Is Saquon Barkley to be blamed for this?

It’s no surprise that RBs have often been mistreated in the league for years and years. Even the league’s top-tier athletes aren’t safe, with Dalvin Cook being released from the Vikings, without a single offer in sight, leaving him in the realm of free agents. On the other hand, Saquon Barkley handled his negotiations with the Giants very privately, and there were only a few leaks on the internet. The Giants man also dismissed a rumor on Twitter after a source claimed that the RB demanded a $16 million annual contract. After hundreds of speculations, the discussion about a long-term deal is out of the table. With the deadline at the end, Saquon took to his socials to remove the Giants from his bios, expressing his sentiments and possibly foreshadowing the future.

Recently, the popular talk show ‘Speak’ discussed this issue and how it all came about. The four co-hosts had some disagreements, but they all agreed that Barkley didn’t play his hand well and couldn’t land a deal because he lacked leverage. Co-host, Emmanuel Acho, brought up an interesting point about Kyler Murray, the Cardinals‘ QB, who unfollowed his team when they couldn’t agree on a deal. Eventually, that move led to Murray becoming the second-highest-paid quarterback in the league. Although it’s too late for Barkley, it still could be catastrophic for the Big Blue.

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With the RB finally starting to show his hand, it remains a question of how it might affect the Giants, and if the team now faces dark clouds if Saquon decides to turn the table.

What options does Barkley have left?

As there are only a handful of options left for the ruthless RB, it still could be devastating for the team. Barkley now has the choice to opt out of training camp without facing any penalties. The team then would be unable to decide if Barkley is actually suited for the upcoming season, with uncertainties and miscommunication among the roster.

Notably, it was reported that the Giants had offered Barkley an annual $11 million offer, with $22-23 million guaranteed. However, as other RBs such as Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Alvin Kamara of the Saints currently earn $16 million and $15 million respectively, the Giants man coveted a similar deal.

Overall, the situation is highly uncertain right now. If Barkley plays under the franchise tag, a similar issue may arise next year. On the other hand, if he opts out of the season, it would undoubtedly be devastating for the Giants. Fans and the team are anxiously waiting to see how this unfolds.

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