Barkley tries to temper Giant expectations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » When it comes to football, Saquon Barkley has a knack for doing what might sound impossible.
Whether it’s his freakish feats in the weight room, or his gamebreaking plays during a three-year career at Penn State (during which he scored a school-record 53 touchdowns), the 6-foot, 233-pounder earned another distinction when he was selected second overall by the Giants in the draft last month instead of a quarterback.
In a QB-driven league where an every-down back is an endangered species, Barkley was the highest running back drafted in more than a decade.
The next hurdle for the Bronx native? Tempering expectations that he’ll become the Giants’ hometown hero.
“I don’t see them,” Barkley said. “I know a lot of people try and set expectations for me. No offense to you guys, but I set my own expectations.”
Which will start by using the same mentality he’s always had.
“I have to believe in myself, set goals for myself, set expectations for myself and continue to work for those goals every single day,” Barkley said. “Just to continue to come in, be humble. I don’t want to be that guy that thinks he is a high draft pick and that he has it all. Nothing is given to you. Everything is earned. You have to have that mindset that you have to work every single day. Learn every single day. Be a student of the day, learn from the guys and the coaches. The Elis (Manning) and the Odells (Beckham Jr.) on the field and off the field. Just work. Hard work got me here.”
Like the highest running back taken since Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in 2006, Barkley is more of a do-everything player than a conventional running back, returning kicks, including two for touchdowns last season.