Will Saquon Barkley be fined for skipping Giants training camp?

The New York Giants and Saquon Barkley failed to meet Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for agreeing on a contract. He’ll miss training camp, but will he be fined?

Saquon Barkley, the talented running back for the New York Giants, will stay away from the team’s facilities until he gets the contract he deserves or is being docked pay. Unfortunately, the two sides couldn’t agree on a contract by Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Now, Barkley faces a tough decision. He can play under the franchise tag, which means a one-year contract worth $10.1 million. Alternatively, he may remain on the sidelines, possibly missing training camp and even regular-season games, leading to financial consequences.

NY Giants: Will Saquon Barkley be fined for skipping training camp?

Throughout the negotiation process, Barkley has been actively sharing pictures of his workouts, showing his dedication to staying in shape while his teammates train at the facility. In protest, he opted not to attend the first phase of the Giants’ offseason program and is set to hold out until the regular season begins, where only then will his paycheck be affected.

While Barkley has repeatedly expressed his desire to spend his entire career with the Giants, he also wants to be fairly compensated for his skills and contributions to the team.

At 26 years old, Barkley is coming off a remarkable season with a career-high of 1,312 rushing yards in the regular season and 377 offensive touches, including the playoffs. It was his best since his rookie of the year season in 2018, where he rushed for 2,028 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

Health has previously eluded the star running back, who suffered injuries in consecutive seasons from 2019-21. Over the past five years with the Giants, he earned $38.6 million, showcasing his value to the team.

Last month, Barkley enlisted Ed Berry of CAA as co-representation alongside his agent, Kim Miale of Roc Nation, indicating the seriousness of his contract negotiations.

If this situation drags on into the regular season, the Giants might be forced to consider trading Barkley and seeking another star running back to complement quarterback Daniel Jones. The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for both Barkley’s future and the Giants’ roster.