Carl Banks Slams Fans for Personal Attacks on Saquon Barkley, "He Has Put This Team on His Back"
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This NFL offseason has been one of the most wild, as plenty of franchise players have changed teams, including hopping over to divisional rivals. Former New York Giants Saquon Barkley is one of them, as the star RB is now part of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's completely understandable to be upset when a player leaves a team, especially if that player leaves for the hated enemy. Still, the NFL is a business, and personal attacks against a player for doing so are unwarranted.
Former Giants linebacker Carl Banks discussed how people should still root for Barkley, especially for giving his all as part of the Giants.
"Saquon Barkley has put this team on his back. He's a New Yorker, once a giant, always a giant. And that fits him. And I hate the effing Eagles. I do. And I'm going to root for Saquon Barkley for 15 weeks. I'm going to wish him love and success for 15 weeks. The other two weeks. I hope he gets two yards. And if they see him in the third week, I hope he gets less yards than that. Other than that, the kid has been everything that you would want a star player to be within your organization and outside of your organization. And, you know, again, I'm not singling out all fans but some of the behavior, some of the rhetoric towards you."
via Carl Banks, Bleav in Giants
Banks is referring to the fans who have openly said hateful things about Barkley signing with the Eagles. Even though being upset is natural, the young RB gave the Giants his all.
The fans might point their hate more at the Giants organization for not doing right by Barkely in giving him a contract he truly deserves.
"I mean, I get it. You can be critical of him. You can call him you can call him a traitor if you want because that's what fandom is. But some of the personal attacks understand he's in his twenties. He's somebody. So he's got a daughter. Right. Of age, which she can see. And that's hurtful stuff, folks. And understand this. Would you want someone to do that? Go to your son's job. Somebody would go to you and call you all these types of names because you changed jobs. It ain't like he didn't put out for you. He put this team on his back."
via Carl Banks, Bleav in Giants
Barkley put up a 1,000+ yard season in three of his total six years as a Giant. He nearly eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2023, landing at 962. He did put everything he had into ensuring the Giants offense had some spark.
Giants fans don't have to be happy he ended up as part of the Eagles organization, but everyone should not be attacking him in demeaning ways. Especially considering what he has done to try and keep the G Men relevant.
