When the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in and signed working again Saquon Barkley, it despatched shockwaves throughout the NFL.
Blood boiled in New York because the Giants star defected to their fiercest rival, setting off an emotionally charged change between Barkley and one among Huge Blue’s biggest all-time gamers, Tiki Barber.
Different former Giants additionally chimed in, as did followers — many burning their Barkley jerseys.
Due to the heated nature of Barkley’s transfer inside the division, Adam Rank of NFL Community believes Giants-Eagles shall be among the many NFL’s finest revenge video games of 2024.
Let’s begin off with a banger — similar to they do at WrestleMania, which is going down in Philadelphia this yr. Now, it was former Giants working again Tiki Barber who (jokingly?) stated Saquon Barkley was lifeless to him after the star RB signed a big-money take care of the rival Eagles. I get it. There isn’t any love misplaced between Giants and Eagles followers. It’s one of the bitter rivalries within the NFL. However I truly suppose this was sort of a fantastic transfer, and one which Giants followers shouldn’t be too upset about. Saquon performed some positive soccer throughout his six seasons in New York, incomes a wholesome payday with a workforce that’s nonetheless in its Tremendous Bowl window (we hope, anyway).
The Giants are in a spot the place devoting massive cash to a working again isn’t the transfer. The Eagles, however, most likely shouldn’t let their quarterback run for 15 touchdowns, so for them, this signing made numerous sense. I perceive that it’s disturbing for some to consider Saquon in an Eagles uniform, and that Giants followers shall be upset when he has a Christian McCaffrey-like affect with their division rival. However dude is from Allentown, Pennsylvania, (positive, Whitehall Township) and must be allowed to go dwelling. Plus, people ought to blame the workforce that didn’t wish to pay Saquon earlier than getting mad on the participant himself.
The Giants group, from co-owner John Mara to go coach Brian Daboll, have stated all the suitable issues. They’ve praised Barkley on his approach out the door and wished him success in all however two common season video games.
And for his half, Barkley has maintained decorum.
Nonetheless, there’s little doubt that Barkley needs to make an instance out of the Giants, and taking part in them twice per season undoubtedly factored into his choice. He needs to feast on his former workforce and so they’ll be determined to cease him.
It could be comparatively calm main as much as these video games given Barkley’s elegant nature however make no mistake about it, Rank is correct — Giants vs. Eagles goes to be extra electrifying than ever in 2024.
