Transcript: Running Back Saquon Barkley

Running Back Saquon Barkley
January 3, 2024

Q: What’s this last game about for you in terms of pride, professionalism, commitment, all that stuff?

A: This season’s not the way we wanted (it) to go, but we’ve still got a chance to finish the season strong against a division opponent, against a team that we’ve struggled against in recent years—struggled against in recent years. So, that’s really what it’s about. Everyone knows in the NFL, everyone that’s in those meetings and this locker room, that it’s going to be a completely different team next year. So, it’s our last opportunity, the last shot we can do it together, and our goal is to go out on a high note.

Q: Do you ever think about this being your last game with the Football Giants?

A: No. Obviously, that's a possibility. A lot of that's out of my control. So, for me, I kind of just try to keep the main thing, the main thing. Like I said, the biggest thing is this locker room, and this team is going to be completely different next year. So, cherish the moments and go out there and try to go off on a high note.

Q: What would you think if they franchise tagged you again?

A: If they franchise tagged me again, I don’t know. I don’t think any player wants to get franchise tagged. Sometimes the franchise tag is a placeholder to be able to work on a deal later. In my case, it wasn’t last year. So, I mean, if I got tagged again, I think I could give you a better answer or talk about my emotions at that time if it does happen.

Q: I know you haven’t been able to negotiate during the season, but have you gotten any inclination that they want to keep you? Has anything changed in that regard long term?

A: I have no idea. The only thing that I’ve talked about that was brought up to me was when the trade deadline was around, I was told that I was not getting traded. So, that’s the only thing.

Q: The minute the season ends, you can start talking to them again. Do you plan on going to them and talking or waiting to see if they come to you?

A: We have exit meetings, and I definitely will have that conversation with them. Probably would just be more, like—I feel like I handled this situation the best that I could. Obviously, as a team leader, even as an individual with the ankle injury, it didn’t go the way I would want it to, but I feel like it would be the right thing to just shoot me straight. Let me know what it’s going to be, let me make my decision and move on from there.

Q: Is this a place you still want to be next season?

A: Yeah. I've mentioned before that I wanted to be a Giant for life. That was a goal of mine when I got drafted. I wanted to leave a legacy here. But it's out of my control. I truly have no say. It's really up to those guys upstairs, to (General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and all those guys. They’ve got to do what's best for the team and whatever they feel like is best for us, for the team, then they're going to make the decision. But me sitting here saying ‘I want to be a Giant for life’ like I did last year, it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt. So, I'll just leave that up to those guys.

Q: Is there any part of you that’d be interested in just seeing what the market would bear if you were able to hear from 31 other teams?

A: For me, it wouldn't be more of just seeing what the market would bring. I'm confident in myself that I feel like if I did come to a situation where I did hit the open market, I would be able to show what I would be able to bring to another team. I also want to continue to show what I’m able to bring to this team, too.

Does a fresh start cross my mind? I guess anybody when you look at the season, the way it went, I feel like everybody would want a fresh start. Not just saying somewhere else, but just a clean slate. That’s how I look at it to be honest. So, if I did hit the open market, that was God’s plan for me to get another opportunity and to continue to try to create a legacy for myself with my football career.

Q: How much good football do you feel your body still has in you?

A: To be honest, I feel good. I feel really good. Just a tough year. Tough year for individuals, a tough year as a team, as an offense. There are a lot of excuses and a lot of things I can say, but for me, I feel like finish this game off on a high note, come out of it healthy, and get back to the drawing board. Get back to the offseason and find things I can continue to work on to improve my game.

Q: You haven't done a lot of winning here, this team hasn't done a lot of winning. Do you still think you can win if you stay here?

A: Yeah, I feel like not even if I stay here. I feel like sometimes and in some franchises, you go through a really, really tough patch, and in recent years and years before me, it's been like that. This is something they’ve got to spark, something they’ve got to change. You would love being drafted here, you would love to be one of those guys and be part of the reason, be part of the teams that do it. But like I said, it’s the NFL, and this place and this organization, they do it the right way. From the people in this building, training staff, coaches, strength staff, all that, they do it the right way from the top down. So, the time is coming. I don't know when that's going to be, I don't know if I'll be here for that when it happens. I would love to be there for that, but if I'm not like I said, I have nothing but the utmost respect for it top down. Top down.

Q: How much did you learn going through the whole business side of it last offseason? Will you do anything differently, your approach to negotiations, your camp?

A: The things I'll probably approach is to be a little more proactive, especially with sources and stuff that come out. I kind of was like that towards the end of the negotiation process. But really, what I'm going to do more is just focus on myself, trust my team, and just let them handle everything. That’s really what I'm going to do. That's my mindset, just keep the main thing the main thing and give everything to my team, and whatever happens, happens.

Q: You're six years into your career in a grueling position, you've never had a chance to truly hit the open market, which any of us can do in our jobs, right? You've been restricted in your earning window, and people say it's too late for you to truly capitalize on a second lucrative contract. What do you think about that?

A: That’s a loaded question.

Q: Do you feel like it’s too late?

A: No, I don't think it's too late. I don't live with that mindset. I don't live with that thought process. I do know that if I'm going to strike, I have to do it now. This is probably my last opportunity to get a second deal. After that, the way they view running backs and the way they treat running backs, it's not really ideal if you're looking at it that way.

So, I would definitely love to be able to get a second deal and be able to do it. Unfortunately, it's not in my control. That’s really just—it’s not even just a me problem, that’s just a problem. That’s just what happens in the NFL with the rules in NFL and what they're allowed to do. If you’re a first-round draft pick, you can be on contract for four years, they could pick up your fifth-year option, and then they could tag you twice, and that's seven years on the one team. Then after, it depends on your age, they can really do whatever they want with you. That's the unfortunate part of business. But for me, I feel like there's still a lot left in me. Not that there's a whole bunch left in me, I try to look at the backs before me. A lot of backs play till they’re in their 30s-plus, so I feel like once you allow yourself to even have that mindset, you’re just doing yourself a disservice. So, I'm just going to keep grinding and keep going until I can't anymore.

Q: How open are you to getting something done before free agency? You said obviously it’s your time to strike, and that gives you an opportunity to show what your value is. How open are you to doing that beforehand?

A: I'm still as open as I was before. Like I said, I just want something that's fair, and that makes sense. That's really it. I think I was open and honest about that last year, and I still stick by that. But like I said, I get it’s a business and if it’s not here, hopefully it’s some other place.

Q: You've mentioned legacy many times over. How different is the legacy you built now than the legacy that maybe you thought you'd have, I would imagine? Are you as proud or even more proud of what you've been able to do to this point?

A: Yeah, I feel like—I’m trying to just process that question again. I feel like I didn't think in six years, I’d only be in the playoffs one time, or I would have torn my ACL in my third year. I went through a lot of adversity, and I feel like that I never folded. I feel like every time I got knocked down, I got back up and kept fighting, and that’s going to continue to be my mindset. I think that what I want to be, I've said it openly and honestly, I want to be one of the best running backs to ever play. I want to be one of the best running backs to ever play here. All that’s still out there for me. That's how I truly feel. So, that's the mindset I'm going to continue to have.