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The return of New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was supposed to be one of the league’s biggest stories in 2021. He was viewed as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate and was pegged as the wheel that would get the Giants’ offense turning again.
That has not come to fruition.
A year removed from tearing his ACL, Barkley has suffered through another injury-plagued season, appearing in just 11 of the team’s 15 games. In two of those, he left the game hurt.
Even while on the field, Barkley’s production has been nearly nonexistent. He’s averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry and is among the league leaders in dropped passes.
Barkley’s counterpart, Devontae Booker, leads the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year in rushing yards, average per carry, receiving yards, catch percentage and most other statistical categories. The only thing Booker doesn’t have is that “C” on his chest.
Ironically, it was that “C” which got called into question this week.
Following a humiliating loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, Barkley avoided stepping up to the podium, instead allowing Booker and quarterbacks Jake Fromm and Mike Glennon to face the heat.
On Monday, Barkley again avoided reporters despite several requests for him to speak.
Eli Manning used to talk Mondays (only after losses) so other guys wouldn’t have to stand there and take the tough questions. He willingly took it on his own shoulders to take pressure off others.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 27, 2021
Head coach Joe Judge shrugged off the issue.
“I’m going to be completely transparent and honest with you right now, I don’t pay a lot of attention to who gets asked to speak after games or appear through weeks,” Judge said. “I know that I see him at the podium a lot of times when I’m walking off the field from practice. I know I see him a good deal dealing with the media. I don’t know his individual schedule.
“I can tell you — because (Senior Vice President of Communications) Pat Hanlon and I talked about this kind of walking in the hallway earlier — but I guess there are some reports about him not being available. I can tell you for a fact after the game was over that he was getting his normal treatment and was with the trainers for a good amount of time. Between that, shower, getting dressed, we were obviously driving back on buses, there was a kind of hurried emphasis of getting everybody out of the locker room (on Sunday).”
Before Judge could even finish his thought, he was interrupted by reporters reminding him that retired quarterback Eli Manning never shied away from the media. Rather, as a team captain, he would willingly face the heat so that his teammates didn’t have to.
“I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t really pay a whole lot of attention to who the players are talking to media-wise, but I’ll make sure Pat addresses that and we’ll see if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted based on league policy,” Judge added.
It’s not really about league policy, but Judge knew that before he answered. It was more about an under-performing captain assuming responsibility and taking one for the team. He chose not to. Twice.
Given Barkley’s poor performance and lack of answers this season, avoiding reporters late in the year isn’t good for the optics. Fair or unfair, relevant or irrelevant, every decision Barkley makes is being magnified. That’s the nature of playing in New York and being voted a team captain.
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