BARKLEY SHUTS DOWN ANY SHUT-DOWN TALK
Saquon says he’ll play in Giants’ last two games
Saquon Barkley said he didn’t speak to the media on Sunday or Monday after the Giants’ loss to the Eagles because of “the timing.” “I’m pretty sure you guys got in contact with our media team, just the timing of after the game with treatment and everything. Wouldn’t have aligned, “Barkley said after sitting out Wednesday’s practice for maintenance on his left ankle. “[It was] kind of a similar situation to what happened earlier in the year with a [game against] Washington, as you would know.
“The next day [Monday], timing wasn’t gonna happen again,” he added, “and I kinda know that you guys would be able to talk to me Wednesday, so here I am, guys.”
Barkley’s postgame absence in Philly was described as nothing out of the ordinary by the Giants’ media team. It was normal treatment and the buses’ imminent departure. Devontae Booker was the only non-QB to speak for the offense after its horrendous performance.
Head coach Joe Judge said he doesn’t “pay a lot of attention” to which players are requested after games. He noted Barkley “was with the trainers for a good amount of time” postgame but also called it his “normal treatment.”
When Judge was pressed on the rule that every player is supposed to be available after every game, he said: “I’ll make sure [senior VP of communications] Pat [Hanlon] addresses that and we’ll see if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted based on league policy.”
Barkley then appeared on a Zoom video call Wednesday.
The Giants’ running back gave a terse answer when asked if he has thought about shutting it down the last two weeks to preserve his ankle.
“No,” he said.
He also said he hasn’t thought about whether this could be his final two games as a Giant.
“No, I don’t,” he said. “I can’t control those things. I can’t control those. I can’t have that thought process.”
On Sunday, Barkley will return to Chicago’s Soldier
Field, where he tore his right ACL in Week 2 of last season.
But he said: “I’m not thinking like, ‘I hate the field.’ I’m excited that I’m healthy enough to be able to go out there and be able to play another game.”
NOT GLENNON AND FROMM AGAIN?
Judge said he would “expect to see both” quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm play on Sunday at the Chicago Bears. The Giants aren’t signing another quarterback. The nightmare continues.
“No. We’ve talked about it with the personnel department, but no,” Judge said.
The Giants’ coach said there could be a rotation depending on “if we think one thing is better for one guy. We’ll see how they practice and how we’ll go into the game.”
It may be time to consider a run-only game plan like the Patriots’ early December win over the Bills, when Mac Jones threw only three passes in a 14-10 road win. Judge said that’s on the table if need be.
“I would do whatever it takes to win a game,” the coach said. “We’re not trying to throw for a certain amount or run for a certain amount. We’re just trying to win the game.”
GIANT FIGHT SPILLS OVER Hanlon, the Giants’ PR czar, blasted longtime Giants scout Steve Verderosa on Twitter Tuesday night for allegedly spilling the beans. There have been multiple stories published recently quoting former scouts on the organization’s internal dysfunction.
“Steve, @SteveV_PFN for somebody who has a track record that only we know about, you sure have a lot of thoughts about our operation,” Hanlon wrote. “There is a reason you’re no longer here, and every one of your tweets to revise your/our history confirms why. Keep talking.
“Anonymity works wonders except when everybody knows you have an axe to grind and you’ve been waiting for this moment to piss on the guy who rightfully fired you,” Hanlon added. “Happy New Year!”
Verderosa worked as a Giants scout for 32 years from 1988 until his firing in the spring of 2020. His last tweet prior to Hanlon’s missive was a criticism of the Giants using a third-round 2018 supplemental draft pick on corner Sam Beal, who “showed up with 2 knockdown shoulders that needed surgery.”
Verderosa indirectly responded to Hanlon’s criticism on Twitter by saying: “There is no vendetta vs the Giants, I love that place. It afforded my family & me a great living with great memories. No place is perfect & right now they are in dire need of more than a couple of wins. Its just tough love I say.”
TOUCHY TONEY
Giants receiver Kadarius Toney sat out Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury. He casually strolled out to the sideline in uniform while the rest of the team was stretching. The list of injuries that have cost Toney either practice or game time in his rookie season is alarmingly long: positive for COVID twice, hamstring, ankle, thumb, quad, oblique and shoulder. That’s not counting a toe or foot ailment during OTAs after he wore cleats that didn’t fit.
WILSON STILL NOT AVAILABLE
Giants practice squad guard Isaiah Wilson still hasn’t been made available to the media since signing with the team Sept. 30. Wilson was on Sunday’s active roster in uniform on the sideline in Philadelphia as a COVID replacement and didn’t play a snap. Wilson has a checkered past to put it mildly. His signing was controversial. The team continues to hide him.
GIANTS INJURY REPORT
Did not practice: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), C Billy Price (personal, not injury related), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), K Graham Gano (illness), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), RB Gary Brightwell (neck), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), DL Raymond Johnson (illness). Limited: OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), CB Adoree Jackson (quad/Covid ramp-up), CB Keion Crossen (Covid ramp-up), WR John Ross (knee/Covid ramp-up).
Giants’ running back Saquon Barkley, who is completing his first season since ACL surgery, suffered a severe ankle sprain earlier this year.