Enough hype!45
Mara: But Saquon may be really good
Saquon Barkley might not be getting a big head as a highly hyped rookie. But just in case he is, John Mara cautioned Thursday that he is “a little nervous about all the hype since he hasn’t played a down yet.
“But I think he’s capable of living up to it,” Mara added.
Barkley’s No. 26 Giants jersey has shattered rookie jersey sales records and currently sits No. 2 in the entire NFL behind only the Eagles’ Carson Wentz on the Dick’s Sporting Goods Jersey Report.
Social media is cluttered with unfiltered praise from all directions of Barkley’s strength and workout videos. He has a new nickname, “Saquads,” for the tree trunks on which he has built his promising career.
And of course, Dave Gettleman started it all in April when, after drafting Barkley second overall out of Penn State, the Giants GM said Barkley was “touched by the hand of God.”
“Yeah, we’re excited about him,” Mara said of Barkley. “He obviously has unlimited physical skills. He’s a real fine young man, as well, that gives us a different (on-field) dimension that maybe we haven’t had in quite some time. I do get a little nervous about all the hype since he hasn’t played a down yet, but I think he’s capable of living up to it. He’s just very mature. We’re obviously very excited about him.”
On Wednesday, two-time Super Bowl champion Giants great Carl Banks actually had voiced a similarly cautionary evaluation of Barkley’s affect on the Giants, as well, talking to CBS Radio’s Damon Amendolara.
“I always laugh because a team that was 3-13, you get one player, new coaches, and all of a sudden you’re ready for the Super Bowl again,” Banks told CBS. “It just doesn’t work that way. It’s not Monopoly where you can skip ahead and go straight to the championship. It still takes work.
“There are a lot of things that have to be in place for that,” Banks added. “You got to have an offensive line that’s working well for you also. So (Barkley) is going to do his part. I’m not putting the stamp of greatness on any player that hasn’t taken the field in the NFL yet. If he takes the field, he may have great plays, but greatness takes a while.”
Mara could think of only one Giant who ever has come into his rookie camp with anything close to this much hype.
“Possibly 1981 with Lawrence Taylor when he came to camp, but maybe not quite this much,” Mara said. “(Barkley’s) jersey’s already the No. 1 selling jersey (in June). He’s gotten a lot of attention. In speaking to him and watching how he conducts himself I think he’s able to handle that, so I feel good about that.
“But still,” Mara continued. “I’ve used this line a million times before: Let’s not get him ready for Canton just yet. Let’s let him play some games first.”