Three years ago, to prepare for its centenary, the NFL had produced an excellent music video, where about fifty players, former and current, improvised a game in the middle of a banquet. This strange encounter ended with a young man, ball in hand, tuxedo and bow tie, who gave way to the pack of opponents chasing him. Saquon Barkley was so in the element of him. The running back of the New York Giants had in fact just brilliantly managed to enter the NFL.
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All-Star in his freshman year in the NFL
But Barkley, 25 today, had been a star for much longer. Originally from the “Big Apple,” it was in Pennsylvania that he grew up and began to shine in American football. From 2015 to 2017 he evolved with Penn State University, where, each season, he broke the 1,000-yard mark in the race. Enough to make him a finalist for the trophy of the best college player, during his senior year, and the second pick of the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Giants. Too bad: in his childhood, Saquon Barkley supported the … New York Jets.
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Also, since their last Super Bowl win in 2012, the Giants have hardly been talked about. But Barkley will bring some light back to the team. In his first game in the NFL, he broke a 68-yard touchdown and passed 100 yards on the run. Even if the New York franchise doesn’t take off (only five wins), the Giants rookie closes the season with 1,307 yards, making him the No. 2 of the season and earned him a selection for the Pro Bowl. (1) and be voted best rookie of the season (2).
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(1) The NFL All Star Game.
(2) The NFL actually awards two top starters per season: one in offense, one in defense.
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Serious knee injury in 2020
The Barkley family discovers a new star. Saquon is none other than the great-grandson of Iran Barkley, a former boxer, titled middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. The 2019 season has started well: he has been named one of the captains of the Giants, a very rare honor for a player who has only played one season with the professionals. And, in his first game, Saquon Barkley, in just 11 games, swallows 120 yards. But the time for problems arrives: he twists his ankle and misses three games. His end-of-season stats remain correct but this time they don’t allow him to fly to the Pro Bowl.
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However, this is nothing compared to what he will experience in 2020. His third NFL season ends after two games, following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Last year Barkley returned to the field, but for another way of the cross: sprained ankle, positive for Covid and above all a bad physical shape and a lack of confidence, due to the serious injury of the previous season. Saquon Barkley only gained 593 yards during the run. The NY Giants stopped at the low points and the beautiful star that was began to fade.
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Second NFL runner this season
But during the off-season, the New York running back overcame his problems. And he attacked the 2022 championship from the beginning. It was Tennessee that paid the price (21-20). Saquon Barkley galloped 164 yards, his best performance in nearly three years. New York has started to smile again. By beating Carolina (19-16), the Giants won the first two games of the season for the first time since 2016. Barkley could not avoid defeat in Dallas (23-16) last Sunday, but scored a splendid 36-yard touchdown. He is currently the runner-up in the NFL with 317 yards (behind Cleveland RB’s Nick Chubb’s 341).
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On Sunday (7pm), the New York Giants will host the Chicago Bears. The two teams have many things in common: a glorious but distant past, a promising start to the season and a running back in great shape (Khalil Herbert for the Bears). A tasty duel, where Barkley will try to shine again.
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