Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: Did you expect 35 carries coming into today?
A: No, I mean you never know what to expect. Each week is a new opportunity, a new challenge that's presented, and at the end of the day you've got to go with a 1-0 mindset, and we were able to do that.
Q: How much fun is that to carry the ball that many times?
A: It's really fun, to be honest. At the end of the day like I said, just want to a find a way to win games and today that was the mindset that we needed to get the job done and we were able to get it done.
Q: How do you feel?
A: I feel good. How do you feel?
Q: How much do you like that formation where all the extra linemen play extra tight end spots and stuff in front of you?
A: I love it. It's kind of just lining up, letting you know that we're going to run the ball, and (they) couldn't stop us. They've been doing a great job, all those guys coming in. Especially first reporting and making sure it's legal and then going in making plays.
Q: There was a story this morning that you your people talked to the Giants about contracts during the Bye Week. True and did you feel like you were close?
A: We got into a little bit of conversation. At the end of the day, I put that in the past. That was the Bye Week. Obviously, we weren't able to come to an agreement during the Bye Week and my mindset is just focus on the rest of the season. Next week going against Detroit and knowing when that opportunity comes up again, focus on it then.
Q: You're okay waiting until the end of the season?
A: I don't really care about it, to be honest. I just want to win football games.
Q: Do you see it as a foregone conclusion that you're going to lock in long term sooner or later here?
A: No, I really don't see it as nothing. I just see it as another opportunity, another week, another day, just come in. Like I said, it is what it is. It happened. I'm just happy that we were able to at least have a conversation. I know how they feel about me. They spoke very highly of me, but like I said we weren't able to get anything done during the Bye Week and I agree with (general manager) Joe (Schoen), just lock it up and worry for the rest of the season and make sure no distractions come out of it.
Q: If they change their mind, would you change your mind?
A: I think I've kind of been vocal before contracts were even brought up, about how I feel about this place. What I want my legacy to be in this place and I want to be Giant for life. Like I said, I've been vocal about that so if the conversation gets brought up again, we'll go from there.
Q: You slid there to stay in bounds. Can you talk about that play?
A: Yeah, got to keep the clock running, four-minute situation. It's not worth trying to run a guy over and get pushed out of bounds. I kind of learned my lesson from Jacksonville but yeah, just slid and tried to keep the clock running. Put my team in a situation to win the game.
Q: You don't think you could've gotten a first down on that?
A: I've got to go back and watch the film, but no. I wasn't really focused on trying to do anything spectacular, make a person miss, get what you can get and get down.
Q: Did you realize you had 35 carries or did somebody have to tell you afterwards?
A: I guess my body felt it, I guess. You don't really know. I tried my best. Obviously, they bring it up and they show it, I try my best not to focus on that and block it out and stay locked in the game one play at a time. Like I said, it is what it is. We were able to get the dub, get the win, and it's my job to be a pro and take care of my body.
Q: Did you guys feel as an offense you left points off the board in the first half?
A: Of course, of course, we did.
Q: How much was that talked about?
A: A lot. It definitely was a conversation. We know it. That's what you want, you want that from your team – you want that from your players. Every single drive we come off with confidence that we were able to put points on the board. No matter what, if we don't come out with a situation where we put points on the board, we feel like we failed. We just got to continue to keep getting better – it was the little things, to be completely honest. It was the little things and that's all around, that's all of us. Obviously, being a leader, being captain of the team, it starts with me. We'll go back, watch film. It's easier to learn from it and have to cope with it after a win. Make sure we lock in, improve and get ready for Detroit.
Q: You've obviously been part of a lot of losing since you've been here. How does it feel to be 7-2 and you being healthy and being a part of this?
A: To be completely honest, it feels good. Obviously, you're not too excited about it because you know it's a long season and you got to keep going week by week. Being healthy during it, it's not something that I'm shocked about. I believe in having positive thinking. I've been vocal about it when I was hurt that I feel like we're going to get back on track and I want to be part of the reason to help us get back on track. We're doing it right now, 7-2, great start, especially coming off a bye week and a loss. That was our mindset, come out and go 1-0. We were able to do that and now we got to build on that to next week.
Q: How much do you cherish at this point when you win even if it's ugly? Obviously, I know you want to improve on things, but do you even care at the end of the day?
A: At the end of the day, a win a win. You just want to, as a competitor, you want to go out there and you want to dominate. A win is a win. It's hard to win in this league. I know you weren't saying that but, an ugly win – I don't even know what that means. A win is a win to be completely honest and we were able to do that.
Q: How does your body feel when you have that many carries? When you get carry No. 30, do you feel more in the game because you're getting the ball so much or do you feel like you've taken that many hits at that point?
A: I would say probably more in the game, getting rhythm. Get a flow in the game, I would say more in the game.
Q: Do you ever remember getting more carries? Even in high school?
A: In high school, no.
Q: College?
A: In college – I touched the ball like 40 times against Iowa, I think. I think that's the most because I think I had 28 carries and 12 catches against Iowa. I was going stupid, by the way. I think that's the most. I know that's the conversation of how many carries or how many touches I had but it's my job to be a pro, go in there, get in the cold tub, get in the hot tub and get ready for next week.
