WHERE IS THE BROTHERLY LOVE?
Not too late for Giants to show some class with Barkley exit
The classy thing for the Giants to do here would be to acknowledge Saquon Barkley’s time with the team, his significance to the organization and community, and his departure. Maybe throw in a dig about being excited to take him down twice a year now in division.
No matter how the Giants do it, though, anything would be better than their deafening silence since Barkley signed with the Eagles as a free agent.
New Giants running back Devin Singletary even said he already knows he’s taking No. 26 for his jersey.
This isn’t about Barkley being owed some kind of special treatment. There are hard feelings on both sides. The team didn’t win a lot when he was here. And he did bolt for a hated NFC East rival.
There is simply a right way to do things, one that shows respect and sets a positive example.
Both the player and team made business decisions the last two years that led to his departure.
The Giants can either be a franchise that conducts itself with class and rises above the fray, or one that is petty and vindictive.
Actions in either direction send a clear message and define who the Giants are.
Barkley didn’t handle this the right way at first, either. He said so himself.
“I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media,” Barkley said at his introductory Eagles press conference last week. “I think I could have (given) a proper goodbye.”
When he signed in Philly, he put out an intentionally general tweet: “Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past 6 years… forever grateful! Excited for the next chapter.”
Then he posted two emojis of flying eagles. And that was that until he lashed out at Tiki Barber for saying Barkley was “dead” to New York and the Giants.
“You’re the prime example of loyalty to a team,” Barkley said in his fiery response.
Once the dust settled and the emotions had calmed, though, Barkley posted a thank you to the Giants organization and fans on “X.”
“The last three days have been a whirlwind of emotions, but I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge all the Giants fans that have supported me and my family over the last six years,” Barkley’s statement read. “When I was drafted here I wanted my impact off the field to rival the accomplishments we had on it, and I can only hope that I came close to doing that.
“I’m forever grateful to the Mara and Tisch famil(ies) and the wonderful people working in the Giants organization,” he added. “The fans in New York and New Jersey will forever hold a place in my heart. Ultimately, the NFL is a business, and I hope that everyone can respect my decision.”
Now it’s the Giants’ turn to acknowledge that their two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and former face of their franchise gave all of himself to them for the better part of six years.
That is what it takes if the organization wants to champion ‘The Giant Way’ as the right way to do things. Acting differently says differently.
Players watch this and take it in. Draft picks and young players observe how the veterans leading them are treated. They watch how a leader like Barkley carried himself and, especially this past season, swallowed his pride and frustration on behalf of the team. Now this.
The Giants’ standing remark on Odell Beckham Jr.’s significance to the franchise, remember, was an
unforgettably flippant statement from former GM Dave Gettleman. The press release didn’t even mention Beckham as part of the trade in the headline.
“The New York Football Giants would like to thank Odell Beckham, Jr. for his contributions,” Gettleman’s quote read. “We truly wish him well in Cleveland.”
Barkley was here for that. He saw them give OBJ’s iconic No. 13 to undrafted rookie wide receiver Reggie White Jr. that spring. It helped Barkley understand the harsh realities of the business.
There are more recent examples of the Giants not taking the high road, as well.
After former Giant offensive lineman Nick Gates was benched in Washington this season, current GM Joe Schoen appeared to go out of his way to take a swipe at Gates and the Daily News’ reporting on how his time in New York had ended.
“We won 10 games with the same offensive line last year with the exception of (center) John Michael Schmitz. We inserted him for Gates, who went on to Washington — I know you’d asked about him,” Schoen said in his midseason press conference.
Maybe the Giants should take a page out of Super Bowl champion Shaun O’Hara’s book. His two social media posts in response to Barkley’s Eagles signing were a classy, entertaining way of acknowledging the player and person while sniping at Barkley, too.
“This is a tough Tweet to “Like” For so many reasons,” O’Hara wrote of the signing on “X.” “Mostly because of how GOOD of a DUDE 2-6 is. Wishing him great success 15 Weeks out of the year!”
Later, O’Hara added: “Congrats @saquon on going back to PA & your new contract. You earned it, Your time as a @Giants was appreciated by ALL those who knew you ON & OFF the Field. You made a difference in the community & were a Leader. But You have officially turned HEEL!! #NewWorldOrder,” with a laughing emoji.
Maybe co-owner John Mara will be the one to officially acknowledge and thank Barkley at next week’s NFL owners meetings in Orlando, two weeks after his Philly signing. Or maybe the Giants are aligning with their justifiably upset fans.
They are not the fans, though. They are the Giants. And while Barkley is now undeniably their enemy, it is never too late to do what is right.