Daniels Jones’ Hefty Payday Sparks Controversy: Teammate Kayvon Thibodeaux Insists That…
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has admitted he’s ‘mad’ they decided to pay quarterback Daniel Jones before locking up superstar running back Saquon Barkley.
The Giants gave Jones a four-year $160million contract extension last offseason and chose to let Barkley play out the season on the dreaded franchise tag.
Barkley is set to enter free agency this year and will likely leave the Giants if they don’t want to pay up for the second straight year.
‘I believe in Daniel Jones,’ Thibodeaux said Thursday on the ‘7PM in Brooklyn’ podcast.
‘What I’m mad about is that Saquon — because if you look at the game, the tape, Saquon was responsible for at least 30 per cent of our explosive plays, talking about the year [2022] we won the playoff game.
‘So, for me and for the integrity of working together and hard work, and we all believe the same things, I feel like Saquon should have got paid first. That’s what I feel.’
The Giants ended up using Barkley’s injury history and the league-wide devaluation of running backs to justify their decision.
Barkley went on to finish the season with 1,242 yards from scrimmage and 10 of the Giants’ 25 total touchdowns on offense.
Jones on the other hand only participated in six games this season due to injuries and led the Giants to a 1-5 record when he played.
Before being shut down for the season his stats were 108-160, 909 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions.
‘I don’t know the back end — maybe it’s a franchise [tag], maybe it’s an extension, maybe it’s blah, blah, blah,’ Thibodeaux continued while still expressing confidence in the front office’s roster-building ability through the draft in an effort to save face.
‘That’s none of my business. I have to focus on me. … Because we see it. As a team, we know who’s putting in work and not.’
Barkley also received support from Giants QB Tommy DeVito, said he hoped the team called ‘the Brinks truck,’ in order to pay the star running back.
‘I want them to call the Brink’s truck and come drop off the cash at the front door,’ DeVito told Complex.com during a joint interview with Barkley.
‘Now [my] hope is for the Giants [because] I want him to be in the backfield with me and all my team because I think he is the best teammate in the NFL, the best teammate I’ve had around … in my life. Hands down, for sure.’