Saquon Barkley embarked on his NFL journey with the New York Giants back in 2018. Despite encountering injury setbacks in recent seasons, the running back remains resolute in his pursuit of a Super Bowl victory, while speculation swirls about the Giants potentially seeking his replacement.
The experienced running back is ready to switch over to the Philadelphia Eagles following a long tenure with the Giants. Before diving into his next endeavor, he’s already facing some harsh feedback from ex-Giants player Tiki Barber.
Why is Tiki Barber beefing with Saquon Barkley following Giants departure?
Saquon Barkley’s departure from the New York Giants after six seasons has stirred up emotions, especially from former Tiki Barber. The Eagles-Giants rivalry, well-known during Barber’s tenure, has left him with strong sentiments toward Barkley’s move to Philadelphia.
Barber issued a stern warning to the soon-to-be Eagles player on his daily WFAN radio show.
“He’s dead to us now. He’s dead to us. You’re dead to us, Saquon. Good luck. You’re dead to me.”
After hearing Barber’s remarks, Barkley turned to social media to justify his choice, highlighting how the Giants undervalued him compared to the lucrative offers he received from the Eagles.
“lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team.. I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs.”
The 27-year-old also didn’t hold back, calling out Barber for his consistent criticism since Barkley’s arrival in New York in a subsequent post.
“@TikiBarber you been a hater since I got to New York … and all the “Dead to me” talk don’t smile in my face when you see me,” he wrote in another post.
Multiple teams were linked as Barkley’s next home following the Giants’ decision not to use the franchise tag on him. Ultimately, he chose to sign with their division rival, agreeing to a three-year contract worth $37.75 million, including $26 million fully guaranteed at signing.
Was Tiki Barber more successful at Giants than Saquon Barkley?
Debating who had a more successful tenure with the Giants, Tiki Barber and Saquon Barkley both made their mark on the team. Even though neither player managed to clinch a championship while in New York, their individual accomplishments offer an interesting insight into their impact on the franchise.
Barber was a key player in the Giants’ offense for ten years, from 1997 to 2006. Barber holds some pretty impressive records as the Giants’ all-time leading rusher, like career rushing attempts, season rushing attempts, and career rushing yards. His impressive consistency led him to dominate the Giants’ single-season rushing totals and game totals.
In contrast, Saquon Barkley set a franchise record for scrimmage yards in a single game, surpassing a milestone previously held by Barber. He earned Pro Bowl nods and achieved feats such as leading the team in both rushing and receiving yards in a season. The feat was last accomplished by Barber in 2003, per Giants.com.
Furthermore, in 2019, the running back set a franchise record with 279 yards from scrimmage in a game against the Washington Commanders, surpassing the previous record held by Barber at 276 yards.
Many of Barber’s previous records were shattered by Barkley throughout his illustrious career in New England.
In your opinion, who is the best between Barber and Barkley? Drop your response in the comment box.
