Travis Kelce says Giants’ Saquon Barkley should not skip season

The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley have until July 17 to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. If they don’t, negotiations can not resume until the end of the 2023 regular season.

If that scenario were to play out, Barkley would be forced to sign his one-year franchise tender for $10.1 million or sit out the season, which he’s left the door open to do.

“I think that’s a conversation, like you said, that’s a card I could play,” Barkley said earlier this month. “That comes up in conversation if something doesn’t get done by July 17. And we got a little bit of time in between there. So when that date comes up, then I’ll have to sit down with my team and my family and make decisions, see what we’re gonna do, what’s the game plan, what’s the next move.”

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would strongly advise Barkley against sitting out the year.

“I mean, I think that’s where the team, unfortunately, has leverage. And the last guy I remember sitting out was Le’Veon Bell and he’s gone on record saying that he regrets that decision. He eventually got the guaranteed money in the contract that he wanted. He just got it after sitting out a year and missing that amount of form,” Kelce said on the New Heights Podcast.

“You just miss like that much money that year and you miss a year of your career. (And) the running back position? It’s shorter in terms of longevity and average career, it is a very taxing position. So I understand that he wants to get, you know, the money that he’s worth right now. But I hear you, man, sitting out over $10.1 million…”

If it were Kelce, potentially sitting out wouldn’t even come into play.

“I’m definitely playing,” he said. “Saquon, I hope you get every freaking dollar you’re worth brother and I hope that everything starts to become very, you know, truthful and . . . just a better atmosphere over there for you.”

The Giants and Barkley have reportedly resumed contract negotiations but that doesn’t mean a deal is guaranteed to get done. There are still plenty of hurdles to clear and time is ticking away.