The irony of the situation facing the Giants and Saquon Barkley is richer than the contract that any NFL running back can secure these days.
The only path for the overmatched Giants (2-8) to move the ball on offense and hope to remain competitive right now is to run Barkley, run Barkley and run Barkley again.
And yet every one of his carries could be used against him if the Giants choose to re-enter free-agent contract negotiations in January leveraging the mileage his body has accumulated in meaningless games while other top playmakers are injured.
“It’s really crazy when you break it down like that,” Barkley said to the juxtaposition posed by The Post. “Just the way the business is when you’re a premier back in this league — not to talk about myself — they feed you the ball because it helps you and gives you an opportunity to win games more times than not. When it comes to contract or a certain time, you’re a running back, you’re having so much miles on you. It’s a crazy thought process.”
Barkley is averaging 22 carries per game over the five games since returning from his three-game absence (high ankle sprain). Is he hoping that the Giants — or another suitor — see his heavy workload and being a good soldier for rookie third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito as a show of loyalty worth rewarding?
“Loyalty means nothing,” Barkley said. “Loyalty, that doesn’t mean anything. No matter how loyal, no matter how committed you are, it’s a business at the end of the day. That’s something that I’ve learned.”
Barkley clearly still is scarred by last season’s failed extension talks, which resulted in him playing this season on the one-year, $10.1 million franchise tag.
After the sides finished $1 million to $2 million apart on guaranteed money and average annual salary over a three-year deal, he gave up his leverage of a training-camp holdout for an additional $909,000 in performance- and playoffs-based incentives that will not be reached.
One opposing coach said the Giants could have no choice but to reward Barkley after this upcoming “brutal” seven-game stretch.
“If he carries the load and they find a way to win a couple, it will tug on those heartstrings a little bit,” the coach told The Post. “John Mara wants to do right by the guys who leave it on the field for him. If you take Barkley out of there, what are they going to be able to do?”
Head coach Brian Daboll said Thursday there is no long-term consideration involved in short-term play-calling.
“We’re going to do whatever we can do to try to win the game,” Daboll said.
By overusing Barkley in blowout losses, the Giants not only are wasting some of the finite number of career touches available to a running back.
They could be hurting their own future outlook if he is going to re-sign and be their best playmaker again when wins matter next season.
How does Barkley reconcile what’s best for the short term and what’s best for the long term?
“I try my best not to think about that, or I would go insane,” Barkley said. “I just try to keep my focus on the love of the game and take care of my body.
“Whenever the opportunity comes that I have to talk about the contracts again — whether it’s with the Giants or with another team — hopefully I’m able to pull up film and pull up numbers to be able to get myself a contract that’s the best for me and my family.”
The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor signed a three-year, $42 million extension in October that ended the contract blackout that impacted Barkley and many other top rushers last offseason.
The Giants (2-8) rank last in the NFL in total offense (259.2 yards) and scoring (11.8 points per game.) Barkley has 162 touches for 673 yards and will not soon get assistance from quarterback Daniel Jones (season-ending torn ACL) or tight end Darren Waller (hamstring).
Even as he plays through admitted ankle discomfort, Barkley is not considering shutting it down.
“I just focus on going out there, try my best to make no excuses, try to compete and play at a high level for my team no matter the circumstance,” Barkley said. “I’ve been injured enough. So, if I’m able to, for the love of the game, go play and be able to protect myself and compete for my team, that’s something I’ll always try to do.”