It’s not his running. It’s not his pass catching. It’s not his blocking.
Of all the things Giants running back Saquon Barkley has done so well in his rookie season, it’s not the physical requirements of his position he prides himself on the most. It’s something far more important.
“I would say leadership,” Barkley said Wednesday, a day after learning he’d been voted to the Pro Bowl in his first NFL season. “I’m proud of [that] the most. I felt more comfortable speaking and leading at this point than the beginning of the year.”
By any statistical measure, Barkley has produced a remarkable debut season.