Barkley considered sitting out season as NFL teams shun running backs

• Importance of running backs has declined in recent seasons
• Barkley latest to bemoan lack of big contracts for position

A frustrated Saquon Barkley considered sitting out the 2023 season if he couldn't get a new contract from the New York Giants.

In an interview on a podcast released on Monday, the star running back discussed the negotiations leading up to Monday's deadline for players on a franchise tag to reach a new multi-year deal with teams. The 26-year-old noted a holdout would thumb his nose at the Giants and his teammates and show them his true value. Running back Le'Veon Bell employed a similar tactic when he sat out the entire 2018 season in search of a better deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He eventually secured a competitive contract with the New York Jets.