Saquon Barkley Takes Issue with Tiki Barber's "Dead to Us" Comments
Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who received a three-year $37.75 million contract that could go as high as $46.75 million from the Philadelphia Eagles, took issue with comments made by retired Giants running back turned radio talk show host Tiki Barber.
Barber, who in the days leading up to the free agency negotiating period urged Barkley not to cross the "green line" and join the Eagles, who are considered the Giants most heated division rivals, declared Barkley "dead to us" during his Monday radio show, "Evan and Tiki."
Shaun Morash, also part of the program, said sarcastically, “Philly, enjoy the nine games he’ll play next year. See ya, Saquon. Enjoy those overrated cheesesteaks.”
Barber, who played for the Giants from 1997-2006, is their all-time leading rusher with 10,449 yards. Barkley is fourth on the list with 5,211 yards in six seasons.
Barber is no stranger to speaking his mind—he famously did so after he retired in 2006 when he took aim at then-franchise quarterback Eli Manning's leadership style, which he characterizes as "comical."
Barkley, however, wasn't having any of Barber's barbs, firing back via X (formerly Twitter).
“You been a hater since I got to New York… and all the ‘Dead to me’ talk don’t smile in my face when you see me,” Barkey said.
“Lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team," Barkley added in another post. "I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs.”
It's unclear if Barkley was referring to anything specific about never turning his back on his teammates in that last line. Barber famously drew criticism during his last season when he announced before the season started that he planned to retire, turning the entire 2006 season into a farewell tour for the running back that some thought was a team distraction.
That seemed to be Barber's interpretation when asked by Roberts.
“I have no idea," Barber said in response to Barkley's comment about loyalty. "Cause I got tired of getting beat up and I left the game and they, by the way, won a Super Bowl after that. What are you talking about?
“I’ve been retired for 17 years, 18 years. I am now in the media. The fact that my emotional reaction responding to you going to the Philadelphia Eagles, which is, by the way, the voice of a lot of Giants fans...and you're going to come back and talk about something from 17 years ago that you didn't even understand or are misrepresenting. Fine. Be that way, then.”
This isn't Barber's first tango with a high-profile member of the organization. HE famously got into a war of words with defensive end Michael Strahan during a contract dispute with the Giants. Strahan rejected a proposed seven-year $58 million deal because the $17 million signing bonus was to be split in two.
Barber also didn't get along with head coach Tom Coughlin, having had some run-ins with the two-time Super Bowl winning head coach, even going so far as to write in his book that Coughlin "robbed me of what had been one of the most important things I had in my life, which was the joy I felt playing football."
Barber added that his comment about Barkley being "dead to me" was said tongue-in-cheek, but if Barkley wntes to be offended, then that was fine by him.
“I know what my legacy is with the New York Giants,” Barber added.
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