Giants Country

LeSean McCoy Offers “Shady” Suggestion to Giants Saquon Barkley

McCoy isn't the first NFL alumnus to suggest this underhanded tactic, and probably won't be the last. But would Saquon Barkley stoop to such a low level?

Patricia Traina

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Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy, like many others, isn’t a fan of how the New York Giants handled running back Saquon Barkley’s contract negotiations.

McCoy, who spent ten of his 12-year career as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (six seasons) and Buffalo Bills (four seasons), weighed in on the matter in a recent edition of FS1’s weekly Speak program with Emmanuel Acho, Will Blackmon, and Ric Bucher.

McCoy admitted to being puzzled as to why a contract was not reached between the two sides by the July 17 deadline, which has left Barkley feeling angered, confused, and disappointed.

During an appearance on The Money Matters podcast taped about a week before the July 17 deadline, Barkley floated the idea of possibly holding out of regular season games if he didn’t get a fair deal. However, he sounded more like he was venting frustrations than seriously considering that as an option if things hadn’t worked out.

But now that they haven’t, the possibility is certainly very real. And it’s one that McCoy doesn’t think would be in Barkley’s best interest.

“What I would tell Saquon is right now, the only thing you can do is play and make that money,” McCoy said. “I hate when players leave the money on the table.”

Instead, the man nicknamed “Shady” offered another way for Barkley to make his point about how valuable he is to the Giants without costing himself money.

“Hey, look, after I sign that $10 million tag, my back's sore, my ankle hurts. I can't play. But don't leave the money on the table.”

McCoy also opined that Barkley could make a statement by sitting out the Giants’ nationally televised regular-season opener against the Cowboys if he were “unable” to play, arguing that the Giants have a “way better percentage” to beat the Cowboys with Barkley than without him, even though the Giants are 0-8 against Dallas with Barkley in the lineup.

It’s all about what Barkley decides to do, and during his podcast interview, the running back’s emotions were on display, though at times, it sounded like he was trying to calm himself down.

“Am I prepared to take it to this level? I don’t know. That’s something I have to sit down and talk to my family, talk to my team [of contract advisers], and strategize about this. Can’t just go off emotions.”

But then he later added, “I can try to get as much money as I can, but what really matters is winning,” he said. “I know if I’m able to help bring a championship to New York, that’s going to go miles more ahead than this contract.” 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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