Sports

Saquon Barkley Rejects Notion Of Bad Blood After Accidental Shot At New York Giants’ Quarterbacks

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Saquon Barkley New York Giants Beef Quarterback
© James Lang-Imagn Images

Saquon Barkley did not mean to throw shade at the New York Giants while in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. The 27-year-old was being completely sincere with his suggestion to Jameis Winston.

It just didn’t come out that way and got twisted…

Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, played six seasons in the Big Apple. Even though he would’ve preferred to stay with the Giants, the organization decided to let him test free agency during the offseason and never got him back. His conversation with general manager Joe Schoen aired on Hard Knocks over the summer. New York ultimately let him walk.

That decision has since aged like milk. Saquon Barkley ran for a league-high 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns on a league-high 345 carries during the 2024/25 NFL season. He almost broke the league’s single-season rushing rushing record. And to make matters worse, he did so with the Philadelphia Eagles — the Giants’ biggest division rival.

Barkley will play for the Super Bowl. New York didn’t even make the playoffs.

Although there are a million reasons for Barkley to hold a grudge against Schoen and the Giants, he is grateful for his time in New Jersey. There is no bad blood between them.

My message to Giants fans would be there is nothing but love. I’d be naive to think they weren’t supportive to me over the last six years. Obviously, a few of them were disappointed with my decision but the way I look at it, all the things that happened over there and the love I have for them is the reason I am able to have the success I am having now. Just thankful for all those people over there.

— Saquon Barkley

However, Barkley’s positive comments about his former team on the opening night of Super Bowl LIX were overshadowed by what seemed to be a jab at the organization that drafted him. Jameis Winston, an upcoming free agent, asked him where to sign. His answer certainly felt like a dig.

In reality, Saquon Barkley was dead serious. He clarified his quip in a since-deleted post on X.

I literally said dabs (head coach Brian Daboll) gonna get you right… This thing with me and giants is so played out.

— Saquon Barkley

That settles that! No shots were fired.

Not only was Barkley being genuine, Winston seemed receptive to the idea.

Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely. I want to keep playing and do what I do best.

I have a ton of respect for coach Brian Daboll, the things he does offensively. I think we have a young — woah! They have a young roster. But they have a young roster that’s ready to win. They’re ready to bounce back. I know they’re hungry over there.

— James Winston

Woah is right. Did the Freudian slip allude to something that we don’t know? Probably not. But maybe!

Either way, Saquon Barkley is tired of the manufactured beef between he and the New York Giants. The Philadelphia Eagles star genuinely believes Winston would be a good fit with the team that abandoned him.