EAST RUTHERFORD (N.J.) New York Giants Star Saquon Barkley This is his contract year, a significant season in the career of the arch.
Barkley’s performance in 2022 will be the deciding factor as to whether the running back is offered a lucrative contract that allows him to stay with the same team. 2nd overall in the 2018 draft.
Barkley stated that he wanted to prove the Giants that the draftee is still here after Thursday’s second training camp practice.
Barkley’s third season of injury-plagued seasons has ended with this year looking more promising than the previous three. He was once destined to be a star. This season, he was able not only to rehab but also to train tirelessly.
Barkley was injured last season when he sprained his ankle while undergoing rehab for a torn ACL in the right knee. Dallas Cowboys He was in Week 5 just as it seemed he was returning to his old self.
Barkley is now in doubt about his ability to reach that level, and he has many doubters, for the first time ever in both his college and professional careers. Barkley, the NFL’s Offensive rookie of the year in 2018, is looking more like the player he was last season than he does this summer.
He said, “I can still go to the field and make plays and help my teammates be successful.” “That is all I am focusing on — taking good care of myself, my body, my mental, and trying to be the best friend I can.
Barkley will be playing on the $7.2million fifth-year option as part of his rookie contract, but this season will be dominated by uncertainty about a contract beyond 2018.
Barkley, 25, was 44th among 50 qualified runners last year with a career average of 3.66 yards. With his improved health and the new offense under Brian Daboll, head coach, and Mike Kafka as offensive coordinators, there is reason to believe this season will be better.
This new regime with Joe Schoen as the general manager isn’t Barkley’s original group and is not tied to Barkley long-term. It adds more uncertainty to Barkley’s future.
Barkley isn’t sure if the Giants will approach him at mid-year, even if he has a rebound season.
“That’s an excellent question. Barkley stated that you cannot really concentrate on that stuff. “Really, that stuff is out there and I know that coming into Year 5 or the option year, or whatever it’s called something like that, my thing is just, which I keep saying, is that if I take care of the small things and God blessed and nothing crazy happens, the rest will take care.
“I know exactly where I am mentally. Physically, I know where my physical location is. I know what I can do. I just need to keep my mind and my mental well-being in order to be the best teammate that I can be. It’s a daily practice that pays off when it comes to the end.
Barkley may be benefiting from a difference in Daboll’s offensive — not only is he catching passes in the flat as he did initially when he was a rookie but he is also running more deep and intermediate routes.
Barkley was able to catch two passes during live drills in each of the Giants’ first two training camp practices this year. All four of them would have been for first downs. Barkley’s talent, and the Giants’ roster, are both reasons for the success of this pass.
Daboll stated, “No, he sees you.” “I mean, you saw his coming out of Penn State. He is a skilled player and you can see him running about here. Our job is to find ways to use him whether he did it last season or two years ago in college. As you develop in a system you start to see what the guys excel at, and then you challenge them to do even more.