There have been worse decisions than the New York Giants letting Saquon Barkley go, but I’m having a hard time thinking about them right now.
Barkley has been nightmare fuel for Giants General manager Joe Schoen all year, putting up MVP-worthy numbers and flirting with the NFL single-season rushing record right after with the NFC East rival. Philadelphia Eagles. But Sunday’s performance should make Giants owner John Mara reconsider the vote of confidence he gave Schoen after yet another dismal season.
The Eagles are in the NFC title game for the second time in three years and third in the last eight, thanks to a monster effort from Barkley. He had 205 rushing yards, the fifth-highest total in NFL playoff history and a Philadelphia record, and scored two touchdowns in the 28–22 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley’s second touchdown would prove to be the game-winner, a 78-yard TD sprint with 4:36 left in the fourth quarter as conditions deteriorated and Jalen Hurts’ mobility was limited.
“I knew exactly what was going to happen. Just the run we ran, the way they played the run and the man you hand the ball to,” Hurts said.
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Barkley also caught four passes for 27 yards. That means he accounted for two-thirds of Philadelphia’s 350 offensive yards.
“Given the conditions or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s a luxury to have, that’s for sure. I love him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said after the game. “I can’t say enough good things about him and the leadership he brings to this football team.
“He’s special.”
It’s nice to see that someone recognizes him.
Look, the NFL is a business and teams are constantly letting go of players who are still productive. After all, it’s better to let a player go too soon than too late. Especially a high mileage running back. But allowing Barkley to leave seemed like a questionable decision at the moment, and it only got worse for the Giants as time went on.
Yes, Barkley had a decline in production last year. But he still finished with nearly 1,000 yards rushing, even with the dumpster fire that made up the rest of New York’s offense.
Plus, it wasn’t like the Giants had any better options. Barkley’s 2,005 rushing yards this season were more than anyone in a Giants uniform, and his 13 rushing touchdowns matched New York’s total. Given New York’s debacle at quarterback this year, it seems like having a reliable running back who can carry an offense would have been a good thing for the Giants, but what I know.
Barkley also wanted to stay. Which, given the Giants’ fortunes over the past two years, should have mattered a lot more than it did.
But for some reason, Schoen was content to let Barkley go. He also practically held the door open for her. Mara didn’t call it off – even though she seemed to know it was going to come back to haunt the Giants.
“I’ll have trouble sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly, I’ll tell you that,” Mara told Schoen during an exchange that aired during “Hard Knocks.”
“As I told you, with enough players, he is by far the most popular player we have.”
Has not changed! Only now is Barkley revered in Philadelphia, where the Eagles will host the Washington Commandersanother NFC East foe, next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl.
“Thank you so much for the love and support you have received” Barkley said as he left the field. “At the end of the day, it has to go through Philadelphia.”
The Giants, meanwhile, aren’t going anywhere fast, retaining Schoen and coach Brian Daboll despite being last in the division with a 3-14 record. In addition to needing to find a quarterback this offseason, they will also be looking for a running back.
Frame.
It’s easy to criticize decisions after the fact. Hindsight and all that. And Barkley is doing better in Philadelphia than if he had stayed in New York.
But Schoen’s decision to let go of a top talent who was also the face of the franchise didn’t make a lot of sense at the time, and it makes even less sense now.
Follow USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armor on social media @nrarmour.
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