Saquon Barkley Has Five-Word Message Amid Failed Contract Negotiations With Giants

The Giants and Saquon Barkley reportedly failed to agree on a contract extension ahead of Monday’s deadline to extend players under the franchise tag, which passed at 4:00 p.m. ET. 

After negotiations failed to bring a new long-term deal to fruition, the star running back took to social media to share his disappointment in a five-word message.

“It is what it is,” Barkley wrote via Twitter on Monday afternoon, seemingly expressing his disappointment over the lack of a new deal. 

Earlier in the offseason, the Giants placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley, under which he’d make $10.091 million, though he did not sign it. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Barkley intends to hold out from training camp. Since he’s not technically signed to a contract, Barkley won’t be subject to fines for missing camp.

While Barkley and New York can still negotiate a new one-year deal for the 2023 season, after missing Monday’s deadline, they’ll be unable to work out a long-term extension for the 26-year-old until after this season. 

In a conversation with ESPN in June, Barkley didn’t commit to playing the season without a new contract. 

“That comes up in the conversation if something doesn’t get done by July 17,” Barkley said of the possibility of sitting out the year. 

ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports that the two sides were negotiating a new deal up until the deadline’s final minutes but were unable to come to an agreement.