Eagles signee Barkley responds to concerns over tampering rules

The New York Giants are aware of comments made by Penn State football coach James Franklin suggesting that Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman may have violated the league’s tampering rules by contacting Saquon Barkley during the NFL negotiating period for free agents.

The Giants provided no further comment Thursday upon request from NorthJersey.com. The Eagles have denied that anything illegal happened during the 52-hour window when teams can only talk to agents unless the player is representing himself.

The NFL is looking into potential tampering prior to the Eagles signing Barkley, an individual familiar with the situation told NorthJersey.com.

Barkley wound up leaving the Giants for their bitter NFC East rival in Philadelphia, signing a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $26 million guaranteed. He spent six seasons with the Giants and became one of the most popular players for the franchise.

“Coach Franklin, I think, kind of misinterpreted,” Barkley told reporters during his introductory news conference Thursday in Philadelphia.

“The truth was, the sales pitch to Penn State, how many Penn State fans are Philadelphia Eagles fans. But that was through my agent (Ed Berry), and my agent told me that. It happens. I’m going to let Philly handle that.”

Earlier this week, Franklin told reporters that Barkley chose to sign with the Eagles in part because of the team’s proximity to the Penn State campus in as well as Barkley’s hometown.

“For him now to come back and be able to play within the state in Philadelphia, (Barkley) said that was one of the first things that Howie (Roseman) said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him,” Franklin said. “Not only the Philadelphia Eagles but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan bases as well.”