May 21, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes against cornerback Eli Apple (24) and defensive back Orion Stewart (45) during practice at Quest Diagnostic Training Center. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison is champing at the bit to hit his own teammate.
Harrison isn’t mad at Saquon Barkley. The All-Pro just wants to give the rookie running back a welcome-to-the-NFL moment.
Contact is not permitted until training camp, however.
“You get in between the lines, you get the ball in your hands, I don’t give a damn what anybody says. It’s time to work,” the 6-foot-3, 350-pound Harrison said, via the New York Post. “I don’t think we’ll be able to hit him too hard, but I’m gonna hit his (expletive).”
Harrison also knows that he first has to catch Barkley in order to hit him.
“The guy’s explosive,” the 29-year-old Harrison said. “You can see how they’ll use him in the offense, which will be to our benefit.”
General manager Dave Gettleman apparently thought so. He reportedly was so staunch in his convictions about selecting Barkley that he basically told his staff to shut down the phones in the team’s war room and not even entertain any trade offers of teams wanting to move up.
Barkley was listed as the third-best player on NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang’s Big Board.
The 6-3, 233-pounder rushed 217 times for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns last season with Penn State, including a 92-yarder in a Fiesta Bowl victory over Washington. He also caught 54 passes for 632 yards and two scores, as well as returning two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Barkley then lit up the NFL Combine with a spectacular workout, registering a 4.40 40-yard dash, a 41-inch vertical jump and 29 reps on the bench press.
