Saquon Barkley says he 'might have to' sit out season, 'say f--- you' to Giants after failed contract talks

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Saquon Barkley has two options: play on the franchise tag worth just over $10 million or not play at all.

The New York Giants running back is in this position because he and the G-Men were unable to reach a long-term deal before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline – Barkley and the Giants can now only negotiate salary for 2023.

But a holdout is now officially on the table.

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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley walks across the field before an NFL wild-card football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)

In an interview recorded on July 11, six days before the deadline, Barkley admitted that most of his leverage is gone, but the one bit he still has is the fact that he's probably the team's best player.

"My leverage is, I could say ‘F--k you’ to the Giants, I could say ‘F--k you' to my teammates and be like, ‘You want me to show you my worth? You want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won’t show up. I won’t play a down.’ And that’s a play I could use," Barkley told the "The Money Matters" podcast.

Barkley said he never thought he would sit out because "what really matters is winning," but at the same time, he needs to look out for himself.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley reacts as he is introduced before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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"Anybody [who] knows me knows that’s not something I want to do. Is it something that’s