New York Giants fans have not been kind to Saquon Barkley ever since he left in free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles. On Thursday when Barkley was introduced as a member of the Eagles, he told the media by saying:
“I got nothing but love and respect. I don’t think I handled it the right way on social media, I could’ve given a proper goodbye…I’m forever grateful for the Giants fans.”
That is what made Giants fans mad in the first place. Had he gone to any other team, New York Giants fans would not have been upset about the move that he made. A lot of fans took it personally that he left for a divisional rival.
Yes, Barkley went back to the state of Pennsylvania where he played college football at Penn State. The connection does make sense in that regard, but Barkley has already burned a bridge with the fanbase. Was it really about the love for the Giants organization or was it about things?
New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Will Run the Rivalry Into the Ground Because of Saquon Barkley
There is no doubt when the schedule comes out in 2024, the Giants will be circling the Eagles game on their calendar and vice versa. I think the ones that New York cares about more is when Saquon Barkley returns to MetLife Stadium next season. There is no doubt that the fanbase will boo him and treat him like enemy number one.
Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants split the regular season meeting with each other. Philadelphia and New York don’t like each other to begin with. Barkley also released another statement after his press conference on Thursday night on his Twitter page.
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 15, 2024
The comments on Barkley’s post after the press conference with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday were quite fascinating. Also on Thursday, the Giants introduced Devin Singletary in a press conference and he is going to wear #26 next season for New York. Fans were joking about Orleans Darkwa, who also wore that number.
Even when Barkley made the follow-up post, the bridge was already burned with the Giants fanbase. Both meetings between the Eagles and the Giants next season will be much-anticipated theater.