Saquon Barkley Cites Cowboys' Tony Pollard in Giants Contract Dispute

Saquon Barkley is sitting out Giants work while talking about "the running back market'' and citing Tony Pollard, the Cowboys' Pro Bowler.

FRISCO - New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley is fighting for what he thinks is right by threatening to skip being in attendance for his team's mandatory minicamp this week. ... and he's mentioning Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard as part of the battle.

"Everyone wants to talk about the running back market,'' Barkley said, mentioning the maybe-not-coincidental fact that the top three running backs on the free agent market this year all got hit with the franchise tag.

That would be Barkley at $10 million, and he hasn't signed his. And the Raiders' Josh Jacobs, and he hasn't signed his. And Pollard, the Cowboys' Pro Bowler who did agree to sign his one-year deal.

In a sense, Barkley - who is suggesting he might sit out the season - is speaking out against the movement to "devalue the running back,'' which isn't so much a Pollard issue ... but in Dallas is in fact more of an issue for Ezekiel Elliott, unceremoniously cut due to his hefty salary. But of course, Barkley - inarguably a special talent and the centerpiece player for a Giants team that last year finally made a return to the playoffs - is also arguing on his own behalf during a climate in which many vet running backs are signing for $6 million APY or less.

"I see (the market), I'm aware of that. I feel like I'm (worth) more than that," Barkley said. "I feel we finally got to a place where we're a successful team. We got to start winning games, and I was a big part of that. ... When you come to my situation, I feel like I helped our team a lot. Not only on the field, but off the field, as a leader."

Update: #Giants RB Saquon Barkley told the team he won’t report to mandatory minicamp.

He explains his reasoning here.

Barkley believes the NFL tagged Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and himself to prevent them hitting FA and cap the salary at $10 million.pic.twitter.com/uR2lXRmBUm

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 12, 2023

Barkley reportedly turned down an offer from New York that would've paid him somewhere in the $14 million APY range. If that's true, maybe the sides aren't that far off. On a Cowboys-related note, Dallas - which plays New York in the Week 1 season-opener - probably wouldn't mind seeing this dispute linger for a time.

Said Barkley: "If at some point there's a deal that is fair to both sides on the table, I'll be ready to sign."