‘You’re dead to us!’: How ‘Snaquon’ Barkley has gone from cheered to hated in New York

                         How Saquon Barkley went from ‘Giant for life’ to Eagles

Seated at MetLife Stadium watching the New York Giants play the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday night was a young boy wearing a blue No. 26 Saquon Barkley jersey. A few seats over was a 20-something man also wearing a blue Giants 26 jersey, except Barkley’s name was taped over with a makeshift “Singletary” written on the back.  This is the delicate situation that exists for Giants fans. Running back Devin Singletary, in his first season with the Giants, now wears 26 for New York. Barkley, the star running back who was the face of the franchise the previous six seasons, left to join the rival Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in March.

The decision prompted an outcry. Former Giants running back Tiki Barber declared at the time on his drive-time radio show on WFAN, “You’re dead to us!” The tongue-and-cheek comment seemed to speak for a large portion of the fan base on social media, where the nickname “Snaquon Barkley” was born.  Barkley took offense and fired back at Barber. He didn’t seem to like the blowback for making what he viewed as a business decision. He received several million dollars more in guaranteed money ($26 million in total) than the Giants offered during their almost two years of negotiations, dating back to the bye week during the 2022 season.

New York general manager Joe Schoen never officially offered Barkley a contract this past offseason. It led to the much-talked-about scene in HBO’s “Hard Knocks” where owner John Mara said he was “going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia.”  The Giants weren’t thrilled that the framework of a deal was reportedly done before the start of the free agent negotiating window, front office sources told ESPN. The Eagles didn’t understand why the Giants cared considering they weren’t making a real push to re-sign the player they drafted No. 2 in the 2018 NFL draft.

It brings us to Week 7, when Barkley, no longer the fan favorite, returns to MetLife Stadium for the first time since signing with the division rival 90 miles to the south (1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox). Barkley has learned what it means to switch sides in this rivalry — which began more than 90 years ago — built on moments like the Miracle at the Meadowlands. It should create an electric atmosphere complete with bubbling emotions.  “I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed,” Barkley said. “I look at it like this: The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Football Giants probably played in over 200 games. This rivalry was there before me, and it’s going to be there after me.”

So, before he steps foot on the MetLife Stadium turf in a visitor’s uniform Sunday, he’ll have pictured big scenes from the upcoming game with the intent of manifesting them.  “I’m pretty sure I’ll visualize breaking a long touchdown run,” Barkley told ESPN, “making plays there. That goes a long way.”

One thing Barkley is having trouble picturing is some kind of over-the-top reaction from the Giants faithful.  “Maybe I’m naive, but I think it’s over. That chapter’s closed,” he said before Week 6. “I truly don’t care no more, and I’m pretty sure fans don’t care no more.”  While that might sound out of sync with general expectations for Sunday’s game, it does speak to the mindset he has adopted since signing a three-year, $37.75 million free agent contract with the Eagles this past offseason.

He acknowledged at his introductory news conference that it was “definitely a little different” to put on an Eagles hoodie for the first time and to see his daughter, Jada, decked out in green gear after being on the “worse side of the rivalry, I guess you could say, for the past couple years.”  But that weirdness has “definitely faded” as the weeks have gone on. He has embraced the fresh start, saying he felt like a rookie all over again. He has marveled at the talent in the huddle with him, from Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith to A.J. Brown. He has immersed himself in the culture and actively worked to build relationships in the locker room — from going toe-to-toe with Hurts on the squat rack to golfing with a host of teammates during their downtime.

Seeing Barkley with wings on his helmet has begun to feel more normal for observers over time. He has been a bright spot on a 3-2 Eagles team that has yet to put it all together, ranking third in average rushing yards per game (96.4) with five total touchdowns. Barkley became the first player in franchise history to have 100-plus scrimmage yards in each of the first four games to start the year.  “I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve just really shook my head like, man, that was an unbelievable cut,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said after Barkley rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints in Week 3. “And he’s making these cuts at 230 pounds. Oh, on top of that, he’s making these cuts at 4.3 speed. Who is like him, you know what I mean?

“You guys all see the plays he makes, but what a teammate he is. He works his butt off. … I can’t say enough good things about him.”   Giants fans saw that unique skill set up close for six seasons: Barkley racked up 2,600 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns at MetLife Stadium during his time in blue, and will have a chance to add to that Sunday.