New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Already Deserves A Captain’s Patch

Training camp is officially starting this week for the New York Giants. 2019 will bring along numerous important positional battles in training camp and showcase key rookies, such as first-round quarterback Daniel Jones.

Along with training camp also comes an important moment for the players outside of their on-field performance. Training camp allows players to establish themselves as true leaders an earn themselves a captain’s patch.

Teams are allowed to select six total team captains. The Giants typically select two on offense, two on defense, and two on special teams. Usually these patches are given to longstanding veterans, but occasionally, young players can prove themselves worthy and earn their patch very on in their careers.

Saquon Barkley is a young player who has already proven himself worthy and deserves a captain’s patch.

Saquon Leads By Example

Saquon Barkley began leading by example as early as last year’s rookie minicamp. In his first post-practice interview, Barkley discussed his leadership. His quotes were very telling of the high-character player and person that he is.

“You have to start off by leading by example,” Barkley said. “When you have to be vocal … whether it is a break down or you are learning something a lot faster than someone else and you try and help them in that area or someone is learning faster than you and you ask them. Those are the ways I will try and grow and to lead.” – Saquon Barkley via NY Daily News

All the things that Saquon discussed and mentioned during 2018’s rookie mincamp were on display during the 2018 NFL season. One specific moment during the Giants’ blowout win versus Washington stands out.

Saquon Barkley could sense that the Giants were close to pulling off a big play. All he had to do was get his teammates on the same page. So between possessions, Barkley went over to his offensive line, coached them up on the sideline, then delivered with a 78-yard touchdown run.

This moment clearly refelcts how well Saquon leads by example and how mature he was as just a rookie. Saquon Barkley lead his team on multiple occasions during his rookie season. But Saquon has not just been a leader on the field. He has been a tremendous leader and teammate off the field, too.

Saquon Is A Leader In The Media

Saquon Barkley is as mature as can be for a second-year superstar in the NFL. Barkley has shown public support for his teammates under scruutiny under multiple occasions already. Saquon has come to the defense of both of his quarterbacks this offseason.

Daniel Jones was a highly controversial pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Jones has plenty of doubters and haters, but Barkley is not one of them. The superstar running back made it clear that he fully supports and believes in the Giants’ heir apparent.

When Saquon was asked about Daniel Jones, he reminded reporters how great of a situation Daniel Jones gets to come into. Barkley stated: “You get to come to New York. You get to learn behind Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, a quarterback who does everything right, and is a leader and captain. When his opportunity comes, he just has to be ready for it.”

In this one quote, Saquon shows support and admiration for his team’s current signal-caller, too. Eli Manning is heading into his sixteenth season and has received a large portion of the team’s criticisms over the past couple of years.

But Saquon Barkley has been extremely supportive of him all offseason. Saquon explained that it “bothers him” to see and hear all of the criticism that Manning gets because “it’s not his fault,” Barkley says “He’s not the reason why [we’ve struggled]. We love to put the blame on one person, but it takes 11 men, a team and an organization all together to win.”

Saquon Barkley’s advanced leadership on and off the field demonstrate an impeccable amount of maturity for a superstar player at his age. Whether it is leading by example on the field, helping out his teammates on the sideline, or displaying undying support for his teammates in the media, Saquon Barkley does it all. Barkley’s leadership makes him deserving of a captian’s patch as early as his sophomore season in 2019.