The Philadelphia Eagles are returning to the Super Bowl next Sunday for the second time in three years. They'll have the chance to take down the Kansas City Chiefs and bring home their first title since 2017, but this time, they'll have Saquon Barkley on their side.
The former New York Giants running back is having a career year in his first season with the Eagles. He has set career highs in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards per carry. Barkley totaled 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries with 13 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. His performance this year led to his third Pro Bowl selection and first All-Pro selection since joining the league in 2018.
The veteran's impressive season with the Eagles has left a bad taste in the Giants' mouth after the drama involving Joe Schoen and Barkley during last year's free agency. Hard Knocks gave Giants fans and the media a behind-the-scenes look at the negotiation process between Schoen and Barkley, which exposed the Giants' front office and made the team look bad.
Nearly a year later, many are still discussing it, especially with Saquon and the Eagles heading to New Orleans for the Super Bowl next week. People want to know how the Giants' front office is handling this and if John Mara will get any sleep if Barkley helps Philadelphia win a ring this year.
Kyle Van Noy calls Saquon Barkley's season a 'middle finger' to the Giants
One person who recently joined the discussion is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy. He chimed in on a recent episode of Yahoo Sports’ McCoy & Van Noy Podcast, calling Barkley's season a "middle finger year" toward the Giants. Van Noy also commended Saquon for how he handled the situation, calling it first-class.
The conversation will only continue to pick up over the next week, and if Barkley's magical season ends in a championship for the Philadelphia Eagles, Mara and the Giants may never hear the end of it.
If Barkley plays exceptionally well in the Super Bowl and the Eagles win, more and more people will take notice, and the Giants' nightmarish 2024 season will continue to look even worse.
The Giants must focus on this offseason and block out the Saquon noise. New York is coming off its worst season in franchise history, and it can't afford distractions, especially with a critical NFL Draft and free agency period ahead.