Report: Saquon Barkley missing training camp is a 'real threat'

Saquon Barkley could miss training camp amid his desire for a new contract with the New York Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Barkley is under the franchise tag but has yet to sign that tender. He wants a long-term deal that is fair to him and the team and doesn’t want any sort of recording-breaking deal. Fowler provided the latest on where Barkley and the Giants stand as the calendar gets into the summer weeds.

“Well, it’s a real threat,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “You see it all the time with players on the franchise tag when they don’t get a long-term deal done. They haven’t signed that tender. That’s their leverage. They can wait this out. Safety Jessie Bates with Cincinnati last year didn’t sign until around August 23, well into training camp. Saquon Barkley, you’ve heard his comments at his recent football camp. He doesn’t seem overly happy with where things fit. He wants what he just considers a fair contract from what I’m told, he’s not looking for record-breaking money. He wants good structure and good guarantees.”

In 16 games last season, Barkley had 295 carries, 1,312 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.4 yards per carry, 57 catches, and 338 receiving yards. It was a career-high in rushing yards for the former Penn State star.

That’s after injuries following his rookie season, including playing just two games in 2020. But with that type of production and importance to the Giants’ offense, Barkley just wants what’s fair.

“The franchise tag is $10 million this year, would be $12 million in 2024,” Fowler said. “That’s $22 million that you can work with on a guarantee as part of a deal. So that’s what he wants, something that’s fair to him. And so they got some work to do. No real traction on a deal right now, but we’re a month before that deadline.”

Barkley and the team still have until July 17 to work out a long-term deal, but if they don’t the running back says a season-long holdout is something he may consider.

“I think that’s a conversation,” Barkley said, via NFL.com. “Like you said, that’s a card I could play. That comes up in conversation if something don’t get done by July 17. … We got a little bit of time in between there. When that date comes up, then I’ll have to sit down with my team, sit down with my family and make decisions. See what we’re going to do. What’s the next game plan? What’s the next move?”