MIA Saquon gets support from Daniel
With his own big payday secured, the next item on Daniel Jones’ wish list is for the Giants and Saquon Barkley to find common ground.
Barkley was conspicuously, but not unexpectedly, missing from a retooled offense Thursday as the Giants held their third of 10 voluntary organized team activity practices with Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell and Jashaun Corbin in the backfield.
GIANTS NOTES
The Giants and Barkley are locked in a tense negotiation over the value of a multiyear contract extension. Guaranteed money is a sticking point.
Barkley has not signed his franchise tag (one-year, $10.1 million) and thus is not allowed to participate in the offseason program. He will not be subject to fines if he remains unsigned during mandatory minicamp (June 13-15), which is different from a player under contract who is holding out.
“Saquon has been a very important part of what we’ve done here and he’s a tremendous part of this offense,” Jones said. “I hope they can get something done.”
Jones secured a four-year, $160 million extension on March 7, the same day the Giants tagged Barkley. Barkley has been the quarterback’s right hand in good times and bad since his rookie season, so a cloud was cast over the subsequent unveiling of new receivers Darren Waller, Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt.
Jones said Barkley’s negotiation is “between him and the team,” following head coach Brian Daboll’s lead.
“There’s always a business side of things in this league and those conversations will remain private,” Daboll said, “but … everybody goes through it at some point and you just build on relationships.”
WRs Sterling Shepherd and Wan’Dale Robinson , CB Aaron Robinson , LB Darrian Beavers and G Marcus McKethan — who all suffered season-ending ACL tears last year — worked off to the side with trainers as the rehab process continued. The same goes for OLB Elerson Smith (torn Achilles).
WR Colin Johnson, who missed all last season with a torn Achilles, was one of the most active passcatchers. Guard Shane Lemieux also participated after missing all but one game last season with a toe injury.
The Giants were noticeably thin at defensive tackle as Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, A’Shawn Robinson, Vernon Butler and D.J. Davidson were not spotted during the voluntary practice.