Inside Saquon Barkleys decision to leave Giants for Eagles: How do you let that type of player go?

NEW ORLEANS — If Saquon Barkley had things his way, he probably would have rushed for 1,000 yards on a five-win team this season and the entire NFL landscape would look different.Exaggeration? Not at all.Had the Giants decided to match Barkley’s free-agent contract offer from the Eagles last March, he would’ve re-signed to continue what he started.Had the Giants upped their own final offer to him, made in July 2023, by about $1.5 million guaranteed over three years, Barkley never would’ve reached free agency, and HBO’s “Hard Knocks” would’ve been boring television.The Eagles’ season might be over.Instead, Barkley will finish a likely record-setting 2,500-yard rushing season (playoffs included) with the Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl 2025 on his 28th birthday, while some Giants’ executives remain unconvinced that he truly wanted to be a “Giant for life,” as he so often claimed.“My message to Giants fans would be, ‘It’s nothing but love,’” Barkley said.

“I’d be naive to think that they weren’t supportive to me over the last six years.Obviously a few of them were disappointed with my decision, but the way I look at it, all the things that happened over there and the love I have for them is the reason that I’m able to have the success I’m having now.”The Giants continue to absorb hits from all corners for going 3-14 after general manager Joe Schoen took charge of letting their best offensive player, best teammate, best jersey-seller and best community activist walk out the door because of a preference to build around since-released quarterback Daniel Jones.“It’s foolish,” Cowboys star Micah Parsons, one of Barkley’s closest friends, told The Post.

“You don’t have a top [draft] pick, a [former] Offensive Rookie of the Year and not built around him because you have a $40 million quarterback.The Eagles have a $50 million quarterback.”One of Barkley’s longtime dreams (a spot in the Giants’ Ring of Honor) die...