Saquon Barkley got an early preview of the reaction headed his way when the new Eagles running back faces his former team this upcoming season.
After sitting courtside at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia alongside new teammate — and freshly extended receiver — A.J. Brown for the Knicks’ Game 6 win over the 76ers, the former No. 2 pick noted the negative reaction he received seemingly from his jilted former fan base.
Barkley received some boos while shown on the JumboTron in the first quarter, as captured by WFAN.
“It’s been two months… lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game ,” Barkley tweeted.
While Barkley had financial and football reasons to leave the Giants for the Eagles, choosing to sign with a rival was always going to leave him open to criticism and scorn.
Fate would have it that the NBA playoffs would feature his former city’s team clashing with his new city’s squad, and Barkley, who grew up in Pennsylvania, came to Game 6 in support of the 76ers.
Now, on the one hand, it’s fair for him to essentially question why he can’t enjoy his life. He made his decision, he’s moved on and fans have to do the same.
On the other hand, with plenty of Giants fans rooting for the Knicks, seeing Barkley courtside at Wells Fargo instead of MSG is going to invoke some feelings.
And those feelings are not going to be pleasant.
Barkley’s tweet did not make it clear whether he noticed the vitriol more online or at the game.
He even caught a stray from Knicks announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier. who described Barkley as a “turncoat” on the MSG broadcast.
The comments under Barkley’s aforementioned tweet displayed a mix of Eagles fans saying they can’t wait to watch him this season and Giants fans throwing shade Barkley’s way.
One responder, a Mets fan, laid out the anti-Barkley argument succinctly: “You bailed. On New York. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.”
Barkley fired back at that user to explain why he left the Giants.
“Let me educate some of you fans here…,” Barkley tweeted. “I can’t bail or become a traitor if I never got an offer to come back.. so I went to the organization I felt that was the best and after already being here for a month man I’m excited to be a eagle ! Go birds 🦅.”
