Brandon Marshall, a former NFL wide receiver who briefly played for the New York Giants, reflects on the team’s current predicament: witnessing their former star running back, Saquon Barkley, flourish with a rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, and head to Super Bowl LIX. Marshall acknowledges the Giants’ rich tradition and the ownership’s respect within the league but emphasizes that recent years have been marked by on-field struggles. His own 3-13 season with the team underscores this point. The Giants’ current pain is amplified by Barkley’s extraordinary performance with the Eagles, a performance that has not only fueled their Super Bowl run but also sparked constant criticism and ridicule directed at the Giants and their fanbase.
While sympathetic to the Giants’ plight, Marshall believes the team must accept responsibility for the current situation. He argues that the Giants’ failure to adequately support Barkley during his tenure in New York is the root cause of their current woes. Drafting a player with Hall of Fame potential, as Barkley was projected to be, requires building a supporting cast and system that maximizes their abilities. The Giants, Marshall argues, fell short in this regard, failing to provide Barkley with the offensive line, coordinators, and receiving corps necessary to thrive.
Marshall points to Dave Gettleman, the former general manager who drafted Barkley, highlighting his belief that a No. 2 overall pick should be a future Hall of Famer. Barkley’s 2022 season, which saw him help the Giants break their playoff drought, offered a glimpse of his potential. However, it was only after joining the Eagles, with their superior offensive line and offensive scheme, that Barkley truly blossomed, showcasing the player the Giants could have had. His recent three-touchdown performance against the Washington Commanders, propelling the Eagles to the Super Bowl, served as a painful reminder of what the Giants lost.
The fallout from Barkley’s success has extends beyond mere fan criticism. Dez Bryant, a former Dallas Cowboys star, publicly mocked the Giants, leading to a heated exchange with current Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. Marshall views this incident as further evidence of the consequences of letting a generational talent slip away. The Giants’ inability to retain and properly utilize Barkley has opened them up to ridicule and intensified the rivalry with the Eagles.
Marshall stresses that the running back market has shifted, with Barkley and Derrick Henry demonstrating the continued importance of a strong running game. The Giants, he suggests, were too slow to adapt to this evolving landscape, failing to adequately support Barkley and ultimately losing him to a division rival. Furthermore, Marshall emphasizes that Brian Daboll, the current head coach whom he respects, arrived too late to salvage the situation with Barkley. By the time Daboll was hired, the market dynamics had changed, and the Giants had missed their opportunity to build around their star running back.
Barkley’s current trajectory has him on the verge of breaking Terrell Davis’ NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season, including playoffs. This potential achievement underscores the magnitude of the Giants’ missed opportunity. Had Barkley remained in New York and reached these heights, the narrative would be entirely different. Instead, the Giants are forced to watch from afar as Barkley potentially cements his legacy with a Super Bowl victory and a record-breaking season, all while wearing an Eagles uniform. This situation is further complicated by the fact that Barkley is only in the first year of a three-year contract with Philadelphia, meaning the Giants will have to contend with his presence in the division for the foreseeable future.
The only path forward for the Giants, according to Marshall, is to focus on building a competitive roster capable of challenging the Eagles and Barkley. Until they achieve this, they will remain vulnerable to criticism and ridicule, serving as a cautionary tale of what happens when a team fails to capitalize on a generational talent. The Barkley saga serves as a painful but valuable lesson for the Giants, highlighting the importance of not only drafting elite talent but also cultivating and supporting that talent within a winning environment.
