Saquon still hopes to finish career with Giants despite contract dispute

The contract dispute between Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants this year didn't change how the star running back feels about the franchise - he still wants to finish his career with the team.

"Oh, yeah. I don't think that really changed," Barkley said Sunday when asked if he wants to be a Giant for life, according to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post. "They know how I feel. I'm not really too focused on that right now."

Barkley, who's previously said he intends to only play for the Giants during his NFL career, negotiated a long-term deal this past offseason for several weeks after New York franchise tagged him. The 26-year-old publicly expressed his frustration with the then-stalled negotiations on multiple occasions, and his Week 1 availability was reportedly in question at one point.

The two sides eventually signed a one-year deal worth up to $11 million in July. Barkley said he doesn't have anything against the Giants despite the contract battle.

"It's in the past. I can't control that," he said. "I know I came out and tweeted 'It is what it is,' and that's what I truly felt at the moment."

Barkley added: "Once I made the decision I was going to show up and I was going to be there and do my job, you got to put all that aside. Got to be mature about it."

The Penn State product put on a show in 2022 en route to helping the Giants reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Barkley finished the campaign with a team-high 1,650 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns, earning the second Pro Bowl berth of his career.

The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has racked up 4,249 rushing yards (4.5 per carry) and 29 touchdowns in 60 games since New York drafted him second overall in 2018. He's also caught 247 passes for 1,820 yards and eight scores.

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