Are the Giants cursed for letting Saquon Barkley go to the Eagles? The evidence suggests that they might be. Saquon Barkley is enjoying a remarkable season in Philadelphia, a stark contrast to the chaos he faced during the offseason with the New York Giants.
Last Sunday, the Eagles running back etched his name into the franchise’s history books, amassing a staggering 255 rushing yards in a commanding 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley’s tumultuous offseason, highlighted in “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants,” seems like a distant memory as he thrives in his seventh NFL season. His performance through Week 12 has been nothing short of historic.
While Barkley has flourished in Philadelphia, the Giants have stumbled dramatically, currently languishing at 2-9 and riding a six-game losing streak. In a shocking turn of events, they recently parted ways with franchise quarterback Daniel Jones, who still had two years remaining on his hefty $160 million contract.
Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports weighed in on the Giants’ decision to let Barkley go, suggesting that it may have inadvertently cast a long-term shadow over the franchise. “Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants to the rival Eagles has got a Babe Ruth, Red Sox to the Yankees feel to it. Are the Giants going to be cursed for 100 years? The last 10 they have been,” Cowherd remarked.
[Related: 2024 NFL odds: Will Saquon Barkley best single-season rushing record?]
Currently, Barkley leads the league with 1,392 rushing yards and boasts an impressive average of 6.2 yards per carry, including a league-high seven games with over 100 rushing yards. His outstanding performance has even placed him in the conversation for the MVP award, a title last held by a running back in 2012 when Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards.
Cowherd further emphasized the difference in team dynamics, noting the advantages Barkley enjoys in Philadelphia alongside stars like Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. “We knew Saquon would be better because the Giants had a bad O-line and Saquon was great. The Eagles are above-average at both,” he stated.
Cowherd expressed confusion over the Giants’ decision to let Barkley walk as a free agent, especially given his record-setting tenure with the team, which included winning the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and earning two Pro Bowl selections.
“Not all front offices are equal … but some are playing chess, the Eagles. And, some are playing Candy Crush, the Giants,” Cowherd quipped.
He also recalled a statement from Giants GM Joe Schoen, who previously said, “we’re not paying Daniel Jones $40 million to hand off to a $12 million running back.” Cowherd countered, suggesting that the Eagles effectively do just that with Hurts and Barkley, and it works.
Meanwhile, former Eagles linebacker and FS1 co-host Emmanuel Acho chimed in, highlighting the Giants’ offseason missteps. “The only thing giant about New York is the mistakes that they made this offseason,” he stated.
Acho pointed out that while Xavier McKinney has excelled with the Packers, the Giants are struggling. “Xavier McKinney … he has seven interceptions on the season. The Giants only have one,” he noted, underscoring the sharp contrast in player performance.
He concluded by emphasizing the Giants’ dire situation, stating, “Meanwhile, the Giants are on pace for 14 losses. That would be the most in their franchise history.” The narrative surrounding Barkley’s departure from the Giants continues to unfold, leaving fans to wonder if this decision will haunt the franchise for years to come.
