Giants boss John Mara admits telling Saquon Barkley his decision to choose Eagles made him ‘sick’

Mara told Barkley before his move to Eagles that he was disappointed to see one of his best player's leave.

Giants boss John Mara admits telling Saquon Barkley his decision to choose Eagles made him ‘sick’

New York Giants co-owner John Mara and Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO)

After a long and hard battle about a contract extension between the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley, the running back left to join the Philadelphia Eagles. This was a massive blow for co-owner John Mara, who revealed how he felt when it became clear that Barkley would be leaving the team.

“Sick,” was Mara’s response during the recent annual NFL meeting in Orlando. He wished the day had never come.

Immediately after Barkley’s release news became public, he messaged the 27-year-old and said:

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I told him that I was sick about losing him; I told him he was a class act.
John Mara said

Who would want to see a two-time Pro Bowler leave the team? More importantly, that player was one of the primary sources of the spark that kept the Giants watchable over the last few seasons. Definitely not Mara’s 14 grandchildren, who each have Barkley’s No. 26 jersey. 

Mara added:

It was tough breaking the news to them. I hated to see him leave.
John Mara added

John Mara hated seeing Barkley join the Eagles

It was an all-out meltdown on social media from Giants fans when Barkley announced he was signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Penn State speedster penned a three-year, $37.7 million deal to return to familiar settings.

Giants boss John Mara admits telling Saquon Barkley his decision to choose Eagles made him 'sick'
Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO)

Similar to Tiki Barber, Mara was hoping he would join a team away from the NFC East, let alone donning the green of Philly. Mara said:

I would have preferred it be out of the division.
John Mara said

However, he is grateful for all the fond memories Barkley created at MetLife Stadium. And unlike Barber, he refrains from criticizing the former Blue.

Mara said, per the New York Post:

I have enormous respect for him, and people that are criticizing him for doing that to me are way off base. He grew up in the Pennsylvania area, so I don’t begrudge him that.
John Mara said

Perhaps Barkley wouldn’t have left the Big Apple if general manager Joe Schoen had agreed to pay him like the Eagles. Following a lengthy dispute in which Barkley boycotted the OTAs and most of pre-season football, the Giants franchise tagged him for the 2023 season. He racked up a respectable 247 carries for 962 yards and six touchdowns, with three quarterbacks throwing to him.

Mara is looking forward to how Barkley will fare in Philadelphia. But he did not reveal what Schoen was thinking about replacing him with.

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