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There has been no rush, no urgency, nor has there been a need for one. But at least now there are no more draft picks for Giants general manager Joe Schoen to make.
There are enough arguments to justify both sides of the To Sign Or Not To Sign debate regarding Saquon Barkley and a contract extension. It has felt since the end of last season like the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
Todd Gurley stands tall as the cautionary tale of the perils of signing a running back to a long-term contract.
And then there is the Devaluation of The NFL Running Back.
And then there is Barkley rejecting, during the bye week last season, an extension that would have paid him more than $2 million per than the $10.1M franchise tag that is on his plate right now.
It’s a bottom-line business. Always has been, always will be. But here is another bottom line:
Barkley is the face of the franchise not named $40M Man Daniel Jones. Franchise quarterbacks get the big money. It is not a running back-driven league.
Barkley is a revered figure in the Giants’ locker room. John Mara loves him. Barkley represents the Giants the way every owner wishes any player, especially a marquee player, would represent his franchise.
It may make cents for Schoen and the Giants to refuse to budge now off the franchise tag.
