Giants running back Saquon Barkley tweeted a simple message after the extension deadline passed apparently without a new deal.
Monday’s deadline to get an extension done for Saquon Barkley came and went without an agreement between the running back and the Giants.
Barkley’s apparent response? “It is what it is.”
That’s what the running back tweeted on Monday just before 4:00 p.m. ET, the deadline for franchise tagged players to agree to a long-term contract.
It is what it is
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) July 17, 2023
Now, Barkley will officially have to play the 2023 season on the one-year franchise tag deal, if he plays at all.
Saquon Barkley let out a giant figurative sigh on Twitter as deadline passed
There has been concern that he will hold out until the Giants give him the long-term contract he desires, with reports suggesting his participation in the season opener against the Cowboys is in real jeopardy.
The passing of the extension deadline means any deal worked out between Barkley and the Giants won’t go into effect until after the 2023 season.
As it stands now, Barkley still needs to sign the $10-million franchise tag tender. According to Adam Schefter, he still has not done so. He can sit out all of training camp without a fine, but if he misses games he will lose out on money from game checks.
According to the New York Post, the Giants upped their offer to more than $22 million in guaranteed money, which was a previous sticking point. Howeer, they lowered the average annual value of the offer, so the trade off clearly wasn’t to Barkley’s liking.
Now the game of chicken between the Giants and Barkley will extend into training camp with both sides needing a deal to get done before the start of the season before the saga has a major impact on the 2023 season.
Le’Veon Bell sat out all of 2018 in a contract dispute with the Steelers, so there is precedent for a running back sitting out. Of course, Bell has since expressed regret over that decision. We’ll see if Barkley walks the same path.