Barkley is facing another round of contract negotiations with the Giants this off-season.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has streamlined his contract representation ahead of a critical off-season in which he’ll seek a new multiyear deal with the only NFL team he’s ever played for.
According to NFLPA records, Barkley’s sole representation is listed as Ed Berry of CAA, a late addition to the running back’s existing team last summer as he and the Giants attempted to reach a long-term deal by the July 17 deadline.
When that date passed, the Giants and Barkley’s representation team worked out a one-year modified franchise tag featuring incentives that pushed the deal’s potential value to $11 million if those incentives had been reached.
With that deal having expired, Barkley is now looking at another round of negotiations with the Giants, who can apply the franchise tag on their star running back for a second and final time if they so choose.
General manager Joe Schoen told reporters gathered at the combine this week that he planned to speak with Barkley’s representation at the combine later this month.
Barkley, who has never wavered from his desire to be a Giant for life, bristled last year when hit with the franchise tag, refusing to sign the deal, which led to his being ineligible to report to the team for its off-season workouts.
Barkley seemed unbothered when asked about the possibility of being tagged again this off-season.
“They did it last year. So, I’m numb to it,” Barkley told reporters the day after the Giants season ended. “I don’t have any feelings toward that at all. If you’re going to do it, just don’t wait until March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple.”
The NFL franchise and transition tag window runs from February 20 through 4:00 PM ET on March 5.