Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Sends Warning To RB

Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce believes New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley should reconsider sitting out the 2023 season without a new deal. “I mean, I think that’s where the team, unfortunately, has leverage,” Kelce said during the “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast.

“And the last guy I remember sitting out was Le’Veon Bell and he’s gone on record saying that he regrets that decision. He eventually got the guaranteed money in the contract that he wanted. He just got it after sitting out a year and missing that amount of form.”

According to Bobby Kownack of NFL.com, Bell did not play for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2018 season as the two parties failed to strike a financial arrangement. That season, the ball carrier’s rights were protected by a franchise tag for the second time.

With Pittsburgh, he was named to three Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro teams, but he never replicated those accomplishments beyond the 2018 season, and he stated this spring that his departure was “a little petty.”

Meanwhile, Barkley hinted earlier this month that if the Giants fail to reach an agreement with the 2018 first-round pick by the July 17 deadline for clubs to sign franchise-tagged players, he may follow in Bell’s footsteps. For what it’s worth, most insiders feel Barkley is bluffing and that the parties will eventually reach an agreement.

Barkley is on course to receive the $10.091M franchise fee in 2023.

“You just miss like that much money that year and you miss a year of your career,” Kelce continued. “(And) the running back position? It’s shorter in terms of longevity and average career, it is a very taxing position. So I understand that he wants to get, you know, the money that he’s worth right now. But I hear you, man, sitting out over $10.1M…”

Kelce stated that if he were in Barkley’s position, he would “definitely” play – with or without a contract guaranteeing payments beyond the following season. Logic implies that Barkley will do so regardless of his personal views leading into the Giants’ Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on September 10.