Retired New York Giants legend Michael Strahan slammed the team's current general manager with a harsh critique during Fox Sports' Wild Card pregame show.
While previewing Sunday's matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles' offense and the Green Bay Packers' defense, Strahan made sure to point out that Giants boss Joe Schoen had let All-Pros go on both sides of the ball. .
First, Strahan listed the credentials of Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who put together an MVP-worthy season in Philadelphia after leaving New York on a three-year, $37.7 million contract in March.
Entering Sunday's 22-10 win over Green Bay, Barkley had gained a career-high 2,005 rushing yards with another 278 yards on 33 receptions. And with 15 total touchdowns, it's no surprise that Barkley, who was selected by the Giants with the second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, received All-Pro honors for the first time in his impressive career.
Strahan then turned to Packers safety Xavier McKinney, who also earned an All-Pro nod after leaving the Giants. Now among the NFL leaders in steals with eight interceptions and one fumble recovery in 2024, McKinney is another player Schoen should have re-signed, as Strahan explained with a bitingly sarcastic comment.
“Thank you, New York Giants, because you let (McKinney) go and you let Barkley go,” the Fox Sports analyst said, flashing his famous gap-toothed smile. 'Well done.'
Retired New York Giants legend Michael Strahan attacked the team's current general manager with a harsh critique during Fox Sports' Wild Card pregame show on Sunday.
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, center, on the field before a recent game
Barkley had 119 yards on 25 carries in Sunday's win. The Eagles now advance to face the winner of Monday's Minnesota Vikings-Los Angeles Rams game in Glendale, Arizona.
Schoen re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal in March 2023, only to let Barkley head to a division rival the following year with catastrophic results.
Jones has since been released by Schoen, who decided to free up $19.4 million in cap space next season, albeit with a $22.1 million cap penalty.
But while Strahan urged the Giants to retain Barkley as he approached free agency, the team's all-time leader in sacks also supported the disastrous decision to re-sign Barkley.
“You have to pay Daniel Jones,” Strahan said in 2023, quoted by the New York Post.
“That's how football works now. And the hardest position to fill is quarterback.
'So if you don't keep it, someone else will and then what's your next step? There's no guarantee that anyone else is going to be great.”
Saquon Barkley had 119 yards on 25 carries in the Philadelphia Eagles' win on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) walks the field before Sunday's loss
Despite unfortunate decisions regarding Barkley, McKinney and Jones, not to mention the team's dismal 3-14 record, Schoen managed to keep his job in East Rutherford, New Jersey alongside head coach Brian Daboll.
“Now that the season is over, we felt it was necessary to make this statement,” team co-owner John Mara said in a statement. 'Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles in the organization. As disappointing as the results have been, (co-owner Steve Tisch) and I remain confident in the process Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team.
“We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire.”
Previously, HBO's Hard Knocks caught Mara saying he would “lose sleep” if the team lost Barkley to a division rival in Philadelphia, which is exactly what ended up happening.
That exchange has since inspired an advertisement for the sleep aid, Unisom, in which Barkley mocks Mara's sleepless nights.
'I heard some of you were having trouble sleeping, so I wrote you a lullaby: Rock the baby, awake in your bed, while the thought of 2000 swirls in your head. It sure is hard to lose sleep over football; Not for me though. Good evening everyone.'