For the first time since 1996, the New York Giants will not be sending a single representative to the Pro Bowl unless one of their two deep alternates somehow make the final cut.
One of those alternates, punter Riley Dixon (fourth), is absolutely deserving of making the All-Star roster, but the other, running back Saquon Barkley (sixth), insists he’s not.
“The Pro Bowl is dope. I went there last year, it’s an awesome experience,” Barkley told reporters. “It’s not the end all be all. I don’t think that I was even anywhere close or deserved to being in the Pro Bowl. Not shocked at that. Congrats to all of the running backs that it made, they had a heck of a year.”
Missing out on the Pro Bowl isn’t something that’s going to motivate Barkley going into the offseason, however. Rather, missing the playoffs for the second time in his young career is what’s got him craving better things.
“Does it motivate me? No. What motivates me is that we’re going home in two weeks. That’s the only motivation that I have. We’re not in the playoff run, we’re not having the chance of the playoffs. That’s going to be my motivation this offseason,” Barkley said.
Barkley hasn’t had an awful season despite the perceptions, but it’s still nowhere close to what he’s capable or what we saw from him as a rookie in 2018.
In 11 games this season, Barkley has gained 722 yards and scored four touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per carry, adding an additional 45 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdowns through the air. And in typical Barkley fashion, he has not lost a fumble.
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