Barber a big fan of Barkley selection
Former Giants running back Tiki Barber believes his old team made the right call selecting Saquon Barkley with the second pick in April’s NFL Draft.
Barber, 43, has been impressed by the rookie running back three games into his pro football career and says he didn’t think the Giants needed to draft Eli Manning’s successor at quarterback yet.
“It’s absolutely the right pick,” Bar- ber told the Daily News at Derek Jeter’s 22nd Annual Turn 2 Foundation Dinner on Thursday. “There’s more years left in Eli. We didn’t have to go draft a young quarterback to prepare for the future.”
Four quarterbacks were taken in the first round following the Giants’ selection of Barkley at number two overall, including three who went between the third and 10th picks.
Barkley is off to a strong start for the Giants, rushing for 216 yards and two touchdowns through three games while adding 21 receptions for 137 yards.
“He’s tough and he wants to learn,” Barber said. “I think you see him improve week in and week out.”
Barber — the Giants’ all-time leading rusher with 10,449 yards in 10 seasons — was critical of Manning’s leadership following his retirement after the 2006 season but has been supportive of the Giants quarterback in years since.
He also praised Jeter on Thursday for the work he does for the Turn 2 Foundation, which creates and promotes programs for children to avoid drugs and alcohol and maintain healthy lifestyles.