We know what the Giants offered Saquon Barkley in terms of average annual salary (and what they have since rescinded). But the true measure of an NFL contract — the guaranteed money — remains an unknown.
And that speaks volumes about what likely happened between the team and the star running back, and about where this contract standoff is inevitably heading.
If the Giants had lowballed Barkley on guarantees, matching or modestly eclipsing what he would get playing on back-to-back franchise tags, the world would know. Barkley’s camp would have gladly gotten that message out to benefit their client.