Running back Saquon Barkley has still not reached an agreement with the New York Giants on a long-term contract. Now the 26-year-old is even not ruling out a holdout.

Is Saquon Barkley making like Le’Veon Bell?

The New York Giants have until 17 July to sign running back Barkley to a long-term contract. Otherwise, the team’s superstar would have to play for $10.1 million under the one-year franchise tag. Or is he not? Is the 26-year-old planning a holdout?

After a youth football game, Barkley was asked about that by US reporters on Sunday – and didn’t rule out sitting out a season.

“For me, it’s that we have until July 17,” he is quoted as saying by the New York Post. “They can say what they want. We can say what we want. One day at a time. We’ll see what the best plan is for me. “

Does Barkley do it like Bell?

Ex-NFL running back Le’Veon Bell had his 2018 season suspended after refusing to sign the franchise tag with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then, Bell, who is now a boxer, has repeatedly stressed that he regrets his decision because his NFL career was not the same afterward.

Meanwhile, after months of talks with the Giants by now, Barkley said he was not sure if he could still come to an agreement with the franchise. “I think they’re open to talking, I’m open to talking as well. There’s no rush though, we still have time.”

The running back had recently accused the Giants of “misleading” and “untruthful” disclosure of information about the joint negotiations when reports were published that he had turned down an offer with an average annual salary of $12.5 to $13 million.

Thus, the reports had made him look like he was greedy.