Saquon Barkley bursts through a running lane and sets his sights on a hard-charging Xavier McKinney because the last obstacle to pay dirt.
A scene pulled from Giants training camps passed by is more likely to play out sooner or later Friday night when Barkley and McKinney make their respective Eagles and Packers debuts head-to-head within the first-ever NFL game played in Brazil as a part of a four-day Week 1.
“Saquon has that deadly jump cut, but Xavier is among the best safeties within the NFL,” Giants defensive back Isaiah Simmons said. “Saquon goes to win some, Xavier goes to win some. Who wins more? Whoever had the higher offseason preparation, I assume.
“I do know Saquon goes to have some s–t to say, obviously, but ‘X’ is feisty, especially on game days. His attitude on the sphere is, ‘No person out here is healthier than me.’ That’s going to be good.”
Barkley and McKinney spent 4 years as teammates — separated by just a couple of stalls within the locker room — and were voted Giants co-captains a combined seven times.
As a part of general manager Joe Schoen’s plan to redistribute spending to higher-priority positions than running back and safety, the Giants let Barkley (three years, $37.75 million) and McKinney (4 years, $67 million) sign elsewhere in two of the 20 biggest NFL free-agent contracts handed out this offseason. They publicly advocated for one another during contract talks.
“They were two leaders of this team,” Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger said. “I feel it’s going to be fun to observe and see how they fit into one other system.”
The Post surveyed the Giants locker room to search out out what will occur the primary time that Barkley and McKinney meet within the open field as opponents.
“Oof. Oh man,” Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said, picturing the image with a large smile. “Those are two great players. It relies on the angle. If it’s straight on, Xavier might get him. If ’Zay has to return from an angle, Saquon might give him a bit feet.”
Lawrence wasn’t the just one who put stipulations on the mock scenario.
“If the goal line is in sight, I’m taking Saquon. If it’s first down or turning the ball over, I even have to present it to ’Zay,” receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. “If it’s open field and ‘X’ just has to get him down, I feel he can.”
McKinney must have years of pent-up restraint to unleash provided that tackling is off limits in practice and thud wrap-ups often result in debates over whether a ball-carrier really would’ve been “down” in a game. Time to settle the controversy under real rules.
“Saquon might be going to attempt to run him over once, and if that doesn’t work out, then he’ll attempt to juke him,” cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said. “Whoever wins the primary one, it’s going to be good to see what the second rep looks like — just knowing those two as competitors. After which every one after that’s going to be a battle.”
Barkley’s eyes might pop on the room created by the Eagles’ vaunted offensive line to profit lesser players: Miles Sanders (1,269 rushing yards in 2022) and D’Andre Swift (1,049 in 2023). Not is he just counting on one stud, left tackle Andrew Thomas.
“I feel Saquon will attempt to hit his spin — that’s his favorite move,” Thomas said. “And I feel Xavier will probably get a bit ankle-biter.”
Bellinger has seen Barkley’s spin move “too again and again” to bet against it the primary time.
“The second time,” Bellinger said, “Xavier will probably be considering it and go low and cut him.”
Jackson was in the same situation when he returned with the Giants to face his longtime Titans teammate, Derrick Henry. Nonetheless, nobody within the NFL enjoys tackling the 247-pound Henry.
“It’s sort of weird, like ‘Oh s–t, you’ve actually got to tackle him,’ ” Jackson said. “I do know they’re going to talk loads of smack to one another, which is warranted. Heck, we did that in practice. It’s almost prefer it’s not going to be anything different. People might think so, but that is what we do.”
Even when the uniforms change colours.
“We’re not it as ‘X’ vs. Saquon,” Robinson said. “We’re blissful for them and all blessed to play this game.”
Saquon Barkley bursts through a running lane and sets his sights on a hard-charging Xavier McKinney because the last obstacle to pay dirt.
A scene pulled from Giants training camps passed by is more likely to play out sooner or later Friday night when Barkley and McKinney make their respective Eagles and Packers debuts head-to-head within the first-ever NFL game played in Brazil as a part of a four-day Week 1.
“Saquon has that deadly jump cut, but Xavier is among the best safeties within the NFL,” Giants defensive back Isaiah Simmons said. “Saquon goes to win some, Xavier goes to win some. Who wins more? Whoever had the higher offseason preparation, I assume.
“I do know Saquon goes to have some s–t to say, obviously, but ‘X’ is feisty, especially on game days. His attitude on the sphere is, ‘No person out here is healthier than me.’ That’s going to be good.”
Barkley and McKinney spent 4 years as teammates — separated by just a couple of stalls within the locker room — and were voted Giants co-captains a combined seven times.
As a part of general manager Joe Schoen’s plan to redistribute spending to higher-priority positions than running back and safety, the Giants let Barkley (three years, $37.75 million) and McKinney (4 years, $67 million) sign elsewhere in two of the 20 biggest NFL free-agent contracts handed out this offseason. They publicly advocated for one another during contract talks.
“They were two leaders of this team,” Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger said. “I feel it’s going to be fun to observe and see how they fit into one other system.”
The Post surveyed the Giants locker room to search out out what will occur the primary time that Barkley and McKinney meet within the open field as opponents.
“Oof. Oh man,” Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said, picturing the image with a large smile. “Those are two great players. It relies on the angle. If it’s straight on, Xavier might get him. If ’Zay has to return from an angle, Saquon might give him a bit feet.”
Lawrence wasn’t the just one who put stipulations on the mock scenario.
“If the goal line is in sight, I’m taking Saquon. If it’s first down or turning the ball over, I even have to present it to ’Zay,” receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. “If it’s open field and ‘X’ just has to get him down, I feel he can.”
McKinney must have years of pent-up restraint to unleash provided that tackling is off limits in practice and thud wrap-ups often result in debates over whether a ball-carrier really would’ve been “down” in a game. Time to settle the controversy under real rules.
“Saquon might be going to attempt to run him over once, and if that doesn’t work out, then he’ll attempt to juke him,” cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said. “Whoever wins the primary one, it’s going to be good to see what the second rep looks like — just knowing those two as competitors. After which every one after that’s going to be a battle.”
Barkley’s eyes might pop on the room created by the Eagles’ vaunted offensive line to profit lesser players: Miles Sanders (1,269 rushing yards in 2022) and D’Andre Swift (1,049 in 2023). Not is he just counting on one stud, left tackle Andrew Thomas.
“I feel Saquon will attempt to hit his spin — that’s his favorite move,” Thomas said. “And I feel Xavier will probably get a bit ankle-biter.”
Bellinger has seen Barkley’s spin move “too again and again” to bet against it the primary time.
“The second time,” Bellinger said, “Xavier will probably be considering it and go low and cut him.”
Jackson was in the same situation when he returned with the Giants to face his longtime Titans teammate, Derrick Henry. Nonetheless, nobody within the NFL enjoys tackling the 247-pound Henry.
“It’s sort of weird, like ‘Oh s–t, you’ve actually got to tackle him,’ ” Jackson said. “I do know they’re going to talk loads of smack to one another, which is warranted. Heck, we did that in practice. It’s almost prefer it’s not going to be anything different. People might think so, but that is what we do.”
Even when the uniforms change colours.
“We’re not it as ‘X’ vs. Saquon,” Robinson said. “We’re blissful for them and all blessed to play this game.”
