It started in the offseason.
Before Saquon even played a snap for the Birds, people started roasting the Giants' decision to let the running back walk. How blessed are we that this moment was captured for HBO's Hard Knocks?
"I'll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I'll tell you that."
One of the last things John Mara said before Saquon became an Eagle 😬
(Via @StreamOnMax @Giants @NFL) pic.twitter.com/Lf3LAe3KzZ
The Giants didn't make much of an effort to re-sign Barkley as a free agent. They found themselves cash-strapped, in part, because they gave now-released quarterback Daniel Jones a 4-year, $160 million contract in 2022.
It was a questionable decision at the time. It looked worse as Barkley started rolling with the Eagles. And now, on the heels of a 302-yard game by the Penn State grad, it's absolutely hilarious.
Here's Colin Cowherd wondering whether the Giants will be cursed for 100 years:
"It's got a Babe Ruth Red Sox to the Yankees feel to it... Are the Giants going to be cursed for 100 years?"@ColinCowherd on Saquon Barkley setting Eagles franchise record with 255 rush yards pic.twitter.com/j0wTvKQJEI
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 25, 2024
Here's SportsCenter piling on:
Saquon Barkley outgained the Giants by himself 🫣 pic.twitter.com/vesEsr2Otr
And here's about a dozen more of the best tweets about the whole situation:
Someone should have told the Giants about Saquon Barkley
The Giants paid Daniel Jones $160 million and said “nah we’re good” to Saquon Barkley. pic.twitter.com/twoKopHfzR
The Giants really gave up Saquon Barkley in order to keep a guy that they’ve already cut pic.twitter.com/nDWUSERMzA
The New York Giants need to be prosecuted for taking prime years away from Saquon Barkley.
He is finally getting to show off his full potential with the #Eagles. #FlyEaglesFly #SNF
Fire the entire New York Giants staff that had anything to do with letting Saquon Barkley leave.
They really let a generation talent leave NY and join a divisional rival.
This is an ALL-TIME roster management blunder. pic.twitter.com/Rh8kFRLYEe
2024 season:
Saquon Barkley yards/attempt: 6.1
Giants yards/pass attempt: 5.9
The New York Giants should have never drafted Saquon Barkley because they weren’t remotely in position to support him. You’re seeing now why a Running Back is a finishing piece. The difference between him in New York and Philadelphia is night and day.
Saquon Barkley was part of an offense that scored 30+ points just 4 times in his last 4 years with the Giants. https://t.co/YU06f8k2OR
The bigger story isn't just that the Giants let Saquon walk. It's that they completely wasted what should have been some of his best years with no offensive line and nothing resembling a downfield passing game. This needs to be studied in a lab. https://t.co/fb7nZphp16
Watching Saquon last night as a Giants fan was just nasty man..
Who would’ve thought a solid OLine for a fucking tank would do so much?
Fuck the Giants organization.
This decade has been pitiful #Giants100 @Giants pic.twitter.com/U2dLg1g3PX
Because the Giants made a point to let the world know they were choosing Jones over Saquon. They had an opportunity to pay Saquon before paying DJ and they let one playoff game fool them
Plus it’s just fun https://t.co/4ZYeS8DTMH pic.twitter.com/BEhhjbBMKR
Barkley is now third in NFL MVP odds at +500 at one popular sportsbook, behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Another sportsbook has Barkley as a huge favorite (-300) to win Offensive Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, the running back hasn't said a bad word about Jones or the Giants:
🚨VIDEO: #Eagles star Saquon Barkley talks about Daniel Jones being released by the #Giants today.
“IT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME OVER THERE… AND I’M DOING WELL OVER HERE.”
“Hopefully he finds the same fresh start and success.” pic.twitter.com/R9sI2pbnEH
