Tiki Barber offers a controversial take on Giants and Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley remain mired in a contract dispute. The July 17 deadline for an extension is rapidly approaching and progress has been minimal.

If the two sides are unable to come to an agreement by that date, it’s unclear where this train is headed. Barkley has left open the possibility of sitting out the season, although that end seems unlikely.

But what if he does? What if Barkley refuses to sign his franchise tender worth $10.1 million, leaving the Giants without one of their best offensive players?

It may not be a problem, says retired Giants running back Tiki Barber.

“I know Giant fans want Saquon Barkley on this team, and feel like they need Saquon on this team,” Barber said on his WFAN show. “But the fact is, if he’s not on this team, I honestly don’t know if they’d be worse off. I think they would be because of the locker room, but I can’t say for a fact, ‘This team won’t win 10 games without Saquon Barkley.’ I can’t say that.”

Others believe the Giants would fall off a cliff without Barkley. Reality likely lies somewhere in the middle.

The Giants have beefed up their offensive skill positions but Barkley is a legitimate homerun threat. He is capable of breaking a game open as a ball-carrier or receiver, and also provides above-average blocking ability. He’s an all-around talent.

But the Giants do have other capable running backs. They may not be at the individual level as Barkley, but the offense could still function with them in a committee approach.

Ideally, the Giants never have to find out what the loss of Barkley would mean. Both sides remain hopeful a deal will get done ahead of the deadline and this mess will all soon be forgotten.