An Open Letter to Saquon Barkley

Dear Saquon, 

I’ve been following your career ever since your days as a star running back at Penn State. One of my favorite football plays of all time was that huge run you had in the Rose Bowl against USC. You were the first football player that turned me onto the hype of what Penn State football could be, and that this college football team was special. Your time there was the thing that got me attached to the team for years to come, and the reason why I was so emotional when that team finally won that Rose Bowl this year; the Rose Bowl that should have been yours and Trace McSorley’s. 

After your time at Penn State, you declared for the NFL Draft, and in 2018, you were taken second overall by the New York Giants. To be honest, once you got drafted, I was scared. There was a running back out of Penn State who dominated in college (like you did) and got drafted in the top two, (like you did), but then injuries and a bad team around him led to that player flaming out of the league without much credit for what he did in college or the skills that he brought to the game. I was scared you were going to be Ki-Jana Carter. Carter was the most recent running back to be taken with the first overall pick. The big named running backs to be taken second overall include Reggie Bush and Marshall Faulk, so there were some shoes to fill there, but also some big comparisons to avoid.

I’m not even a Giants fan, and I can’t tell you how overjoyed I was when you destroyed the league in your first season. 1,307 yards, 11 touchdowns, a Pro Bowl, and the Offensive Rookie of the Year award; all incredibly well deserved. Then the next year happened, 1,000 yards after missing three games is still impressive, so I wasn’t too worried. Then 2020 and 2021 happened, two years where you were injured; limited to two games in 2020 and missing three games in 2021 with much lower production. I was afraid it was time to accept fate, and write you off as the second coming of Ki-Jana Carter. 

And then the renaissance took place. In 2022, it was back to the Saquon that I knew at Penn State. The Saquon that put the team on his back, and ran through everyone trying to stop him from scoring, hurdling and immortalizing himself with insane play after insane play. 1,312 yards, 10 touchdowns. This Saquon is a game wrecker, a force that defensive coordinators have to plan for on the field. 

Now, we find ourselves at an impasse this offseason.  You haven’t signed your franchise tag with the Giants, and are actively holding out of training camp, with a threat to hold out into the season. You are worth every penny of what you’re asking for, don’t get me wrong, but holding out isn’t the best play here. Instead of Ki-Jana Carter, you’ll be Le'Veon Bell, and it’s not a fate I want to see happen to you. You’re such a special player, and I wouldn’t want to see the prime of your career wasted like this. 

At this point, it’s too late for you to sign your franchise tag, so; here’s the play I think would be best: sign a new, one-year deal with the Giants, and then leave after this year to a team who sees your play this year and values it. You’re too good to hold out like this, and I’d hate to see the same thing that happened to Bell happen to you. 

Love, 

A Penn State fan who wants to see his guys succeed