The Philadelphia Eagles refute allegations of tampering with Saquon Barkley.
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have refuted any unauthorized communication between general manager Howie Roseman and running back Saquon Barkley during the pre-free agency negotiation period.
Barkley, a Pennsylvania native and former Penn State standout, reached an agreement with the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract, which includes $26 million guaranteed upon signing. James Franklin, Barkley’s former coach at Penn State, implied that Roseman spoke directly with Barkley during the permissible “legal tampering” phase, a violation of league rules.
Franklin stated, “When he [Barkley] expressed his desire to return and play in Philadelphia, one of the initial points Howie conveyed during their conversation was not just about the Eagles, but also the connection with Penn State and the local fan base.”
According to NFL regulations, teams are prohibited from engaging in direct discussions with players during the negotiation window unless the player is representing themselves. An Eagles spokesperson clarified that all recruitment efforts by the team are conducted through the player’s agent.
The NFL has refrained from commenting on any potential investigation into the matter. As of Wednesday evening, the Eagles stated they had not received any communication from the league regarding the issue.
A source confirmed that the New York Giants have not contacted the league regarding the situation.
Barkley, 27, has been a key player for the Giants since being drafted second overall in 2018, accumulating over 7,300 all-purpose yards and 47 touchdowns in six seasons. Despite being tagged as a franchise player last offseason, the Giants opted not to do so this year and reportedly did not extend a contract offer to Barkley. Apart from the Eagles, the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans were reportedly among the teams showing significant interest in Barkley, according to a source.
