Saquon Barkley clearly forgot which team he signed with this offseason.
The ex-Giants running back does not expect to be booed by his former fan base Sunday when he returns to MetLife Stadium to face New York for the first time as a member of the rival Eagles.
“I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed,” Barkley told ESPN. “I look at it like this: The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Football Giants probably played in over 200 games. This rivalry was there before me, and it’s going to be there after me.”
Perhaps the keyword in Barkley’s response was “expect” since maybe he’s saying he does not expect boos since it seems, in his view, they are not warranted.
Barkley has been defiant about his exit from the Giants for a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the rival Eagles, taking to social media several times to voice his displeasure to fans’ reactions.
He fired back at Tiki Barber in March after the Giants legend said Barkley was “dead” to him upon signing with the Eagles.
“@TikiBarber lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team,” Barkley responded on X. “I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs.”
Barkley later let it be known he did not appreciate being booed while attending a Knicks-76ers game in Philadelphia with new teammate A.J. Brown.
“It’s been two months… lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game 😂😂😂,” Barkley tweeted in May.
After one X user said Barkley “bailed,” he replied: “Let me educate some of you fans here… I can’t bail or become a traitor if I never got an offer to come back.. so I went to the organization I felt that was the best and after already being here for a month man I’m excited to be a eagle ! Go birds 🦅.”
While “Hard Knocks” revealed further layers to the discussions, which perhaps swayed some opinions, the reality is Barkley signed with the one team that most Giants fans wish he had spurned.
The Giants have been bullied by the Eagles for years, and Barkley is now aiming to win a ring with the Eagles after recording just one playoff victory with the Giants.
“Maybe I’m naive, but I think it’s over. That chapter’s closed,” Barkley told ESPN before Philadelphia’s Week 6 win over the Browns. “I truly don’t care no more, and I’m pretty sure fans don’t care no more.”
Barkley again defended his stance by noting others in the NFL who have swapped teams.
He returns to New Jersey with 482 rushing yards and four scores on the ground and he’s added 14 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown.
“Nothing different. You learn the culture. You get adjusted to moving. I guess because I’m a high-profile guy or a well-known name in the league (it gets more attention), but I’m not the first player to play for a division rival,” Barkley told ESPN.
“(Cleveland linebacker) Devin Bush used to be with the Steelers.(Former Raven linebacker) Patrick Queen is with the Steelers now. (Safety) Geno Stone was with the Ravens and now is with the Bengals. It’s common. … It’s part of the NFL.”
