The New York Giants faced a challenging transition from a promising 2022 season to a disappointing 6-11 finish last year. Head coach Brian Daboll aims to rejuvenate the team’s performance for the upcoming season. Despite acquiring elite players like Brian Burns, the loss of Saquon Barkley to division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles has been truly disappointing for the Eagles faithful.
Nevertheless, Brain Daboll recently acknowledged the Barkley’s impact and maintained respect for his contributions.
Brain Daboll praises Saquon Barkley
Brian Daboll recently sat down with NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero at the Annual League Meeting to dissect the state of the Giants amidst the offseason whirlwind. Amongst the flurry of acquisitions and departures, the departure of Saquon Barkley cast a significant shadow over the team’s camp.
Daboll openly reflected on the departure of the running back, who had donned the blue and white for six formidable seasons. He extended his well wishes to the departing player while maintaining the competitive spirit that defines NFL rivalries.
“This is what it is every year in the NFL. You meet great people…I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Saquon and all the players that went on to other places. It’s a special group when you’re going through an NFL season, you’ve got to go through ups and downs. … Wish him all the best except when he is playing the Giants,” he said.
The Giants’ decision not to utilize the franchise tag on Barkley paved the way for his exploration of free agency, marking a significant shift in the team’s offensive strategy. With Barkley’s departure, the Giants have turned their attention to reshaping their running back corps, which now includes Eric Gray, Jashaun Corbin, and Matt Breida.
Saquon Barkley 2023 NFL season in numbers
Saquon Barkley accumulated 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the 2023 season. However, his impact wasn’t limited to the ground game alone. He also proved to be a formidable receiving threat by adding 280 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
The running back delivered standout performances throughout the last season. In Week 8 against the New York Jets, he rushed for an impressive 128 yards on 36 carries. He also recorded 140 scrimmage yards and two receiving touchdowns in a victory against the Washington Commanders in Week 11. The veteran once again demonstrated his knack for finding the end zone, scoring two rushing touchdowns to secure the victory for the Giants in the match against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Saquon Barkley faced setbacks due to injuries, but he has shown remarkable resilience, playing in 30 games over the past two seasons. In both campaigns, he amassed over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns.
