When the new Eagles running back faces his old squad this coming season, Saquon Barkley got a sneak peek at the response he would likely receive.
Following the Knicks’ Game 6 victory over the 76ers, the former No. 2 selection observed the unfavourable response he encountered from his abandoned old fan base while seated courtside at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia with new teammate and recently extended receiver A.J. Brown.
WFAN recorded some of the jeers Barkley faced during the first quarter as he was on the JumboTron.
Barkley signed with a rival team, which was always going to make him vulnerable to mockery and criticism, even though he had good football and financial reasons to leave the Giants for the Eagles.
As fate would have it, Barkley’s new team would play his old one in the NBA playoffs. A native of Pennsylvania, Barkley attended Game 6 in support of the 76ers.
It is reasonable, on the one hand, for him to wonder why he isn’t able to enjoy life. Fans must accept that he made his decision and moved on.
However, Barkley’s presence courtside at Wells Fargo rather than MSG will undoubtedly stir up some emotions among the many Giants supporters who support the Knicks.
Furthermore, those emotions won’t be pleasant.
Barkley did not specify in his tweet if he observed the hate speech more at the game or online.
Even Knicks announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier, who called Barkley a “turncoat” on the MSG broadcast, gave him a run for his money.
Eagles fans expressing their excitement to watch Barkley this season mixed with insults directed at Barkley by Giants fans were seen in the comments section of the aforementioned tweet.
The response from a Mets supporter summed up the opposition to Barkley nicely: “You bailed. In relation to New York. Give birth to wind and harvest whirlwinds.
To clarify his reasons for leaving the Giants, Barkley responded to the user.
Barkley tweeted, “I’d like to educate a few of your followers. “After a month here, I’m thrilled to be an Eagle because I can’t leave or turn traitor if I never get an offer to come back. So, I went to the organisation I thought was the best.”
