Saquon Barkley doesn’t expect to be booed this weekend by Giants fans when the Eagles head to MetLife

How real is the tension between New York Giants fans and Saquon Barkley? I guess we’ll find out this weekend when the Philadelphia Eagles head to Metlife Stadium to take on their NFC East rivals.

This week, the once-beloved Saquon Barkley makes his return to MetLife Stadium, but he won’t be donning blue. Instead, he’ll be lining up for the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, a move that left plenty of Giants fans reeling when Barkley jumped ship over the summer.

Barkley was the face of the franchise for six seasons and a former No. 2 overall pick. He left New York after failing to secure the contract he wanted with the Giants which prompted Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles to swoop in and hand him a deal worth $26 million guaranteed- something the Giants never officially offered.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen played hardball, but owner John Mara seemed torn on the decision—something that was clear in the behind-the-scenes footage on HBO’s Hard Knocks. In one memorable moment, Mara lamented, “I’m going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia.” Well, Giants fans might be losing sleep too.

WATCH: Giants front office in shambles over losing Saquon Barkley in new Hard Knocks clip

For many fans of the New York Giants, this is still a sore subject.

Longtime fans voiced their frustration all over social media, and it didn’t take long for the nickname “Snaquon Barkley” to catch on, as a portion of the fan base now considers him a traitor. Giants “legend” Tiki Barber even piled on with his WFAN radio show quip, “You’re dead to us!”

That stung and at the time, Barkley didn’t take it lightly. The former Giant clapped back, defending his decision as purely business. Still, it’s clear emotions are running high, especially with his first return to New York on the horizon.

The storyline comes to a head in Week 7, when the Eagles take on the Giants at MetLife, with Saquon Barkley now rocking the Eagles’ midnight green jersey, 90 miles south from where he made his name.

His successor, Devin Singletary, now wears the No. 26 for New York, but Barkley’s shadow looms large- even more so in a classic NFC East showdown that’s sure to fuel the fire of a rivalry that goes back over 90 years.

Saquon Barkley doesn’t expect to be booed by New York Giants fans:

“I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed either,” Barkley said in the lead-up to the game. “This rivalry was there before me, and it’s going to be there after me.” [ESPN].

He might be right about that, but as far as Giants fans are concerned, Barkley switching sides cuts deep. Sunday’s matchup will be electric, filled with a lot more than just game-day energy—it’s personal now.

Side Note: I’m somewhat shocked that the national media actually believes any sports fan outside of Philadelphia would boo a player. I thought that only happens in Philly?

Anyways, I really do hate to be the bearer of bad news but Saquon Barkley is going to be booed. Obviously. And it would be a lot easier to talk shit on Giants fans and make fun of them if the Eagles were a well-oiled machine heading into Week 6 but that’s not the case either. 

Still, the Eagles are a Saquon drop away from being 4-1 and tied for first in the NFC East while the Giants are just trying to get out of the NFC East gutter. 

Good riddance. Go Birds. 

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