Giants great Tiki Barber believes Big Blue can survive without star running back Saquon Barkley.
The former running back made the bold prediction while discussing Barkley’s hesitation to sign his $10.1 million franchise tender as both sides continue to work toward a long-term deal.
Barber explained during his WFAN show, “Tiki & Tierney,” that the market of the running back position, as well as Barkley’s injury history, gives the Giants the upper hand in negotiations.
“That’s the M.O.: The running back is gonna get hurt, so why pay him?” Barber said. “I know Giant fans want Saquon Barkley on this team, and feel like they need Saquon on this team — but the fact is, if he’s not on this team, I honestly don’t know if they’d be worse off.
“I think they would be because of the locker room, but I can’t say for a fact, ‘This team won’t win 10 games without Saquon Barkley.’ I can’t say that.”
The Giants and Barkley, who is a team captain, have until July 17 to agree to a new contract.
Otherwise, the running back must sign the franchise tag tender of $10.1 million in 2023 — or not sign the tag and sit out.
Barkley was not eligible to participate in the team’s offseason workout program due to him not signing the tag the Giants slapped on him in March.
Both sides seem hopeful a deal will get done ahead of the deadline.
The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported that Barkley has, at different points during and immediately following the season, turned down offers worth $13 million and $12.5 million annually.
Although the Giants pulled their previous offer of $12.5 million per year made at the bye week this past season — as well as their offer of $13 million annually after the 2022 season — the team never shut down negotiations with Barkley’s camp.
While at a youth football camp he hosted on June 11, Barkley expressed that he was not happy those offers were leaked.
“Those reports that come out and try to make me look greedy, that’s not even close to being the truth,’’ Barkley said.
The 26-year-old also didn’t rule out a holdout into the season if he and the Giants don’t come to terms.
“For me, it’s like we got until July 17,” Barkley said. “They can say what they want. We can say what we want. … Just one day at a time. One day at a time. Now, that day comes up and I have to sit down and have that conversation, then I will sit down and have that conversation.
“We’ll see what’s the best plan for me to do.”
Tierney said “it’s really frustrating” for the position that Barkley is in, especially with the revenue the NFL pulls in.
“With all the money in the NFL — they print money — we shouldn’t be wondering when Saquon Barkley is gonna show up to camp,” Tierney said.
“It’s really frustrating. I’m not mad at [the players] when they reach for that lever. You have to if you have it.”
Barkley is a key piece to the Giants offense, and certainly a difference-maker when healthy — a point driven home with his career-high 1,312 yards in 2022.
However, the Giants went out and loaded up on offensive weapons with the offseason additions of tight end Darren Waller and wide receivers such as Parris Campbell, Jeff Smith and third-round draft pick Jalin Hyatt in an attempt to build around quarterback Daniel Jones — who signed a four-year contract in March.
