Kayvon Thibodeaux says he would’ve supported NFL running backs and former Giants teammate Saquon Barkley if they staged an organized holdout over their diminishing contracts last season.
The third-year pass rusher doubled down on previous comments that he thinks the Giants should’ve signed Barkley to an extension during an appearance on “The Pivot Podcast.”
“When I look at the Saquon Barkley situation, that man put a lot of work in,” Thibodeaux said. “I’m not the bookkeeper. I’m ignorant to the deals on who is negotiating and who is holding out. From a player perspective … when you are in that sport and playing for the guys next to you, it hurts when you know that the heart and soul of your team, he doesn’t feel like he’s getting treated [right]. Regardless of what I feel about it. Because it’s not my money.”
Thibodeaux said running backs are the “sacrificial lamb.”
The contracts signed over the last 12 months by Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Barkley (Eagles) and Josh Jacobs (Packers) represented a slight uptick in a stagnant market that caused several high-profile running backs to unite by text and consider options.
“Across the NFL, there was possibly a time where running backs were going to hold out,” Thibodeaux said. “For me, I was waiting on it. I was going to be right with them. … I like to be a guy who stands up for what’s right morally.”
Thibodeaux, who can begin negotiating his own extension after this season, did not repeat his previous stance on the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast that Barkley should’ve been paid before quarterback Daniel Jones when both were free agents in March 2023.
Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract, while Barkley was franchise-tagged.
“That’s our quarterback,” Thibodeaux said. “He deserves every penny that he gets and he’s going to get. He’s going to lead us to do great things.”