Giants' John Mara 'Sick' Saquon Barkley Signed Eagles Contract; Hoped RB Would Return

New York Giants president, CEO and co-owner John Mara was not happy that Saquon Barkley departed this offseason as a free agent, especially to a hated rival in the Philadelphia Eagles.

He told reporters Monday that he texted the star running back and said it made him "sick" seeing him leave:

And now the Giants will have to face Barkley twice a season.

The 27-year-old was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Giants, rushing for 1,000 or more yards three times while accumulating 47 total touchdowns across six seasons.

In January, he told Zion Olojede of Complex that he had "so much respect" for the Mara and Tisch families and—at least early in his career—believed he would retire a Giant. Departing the organization "never crossed my mind until last year after I got tagged."

"Once you get to this point, you go to your contract negotiation and you go through the tag process, you realize how much of a business it is," Barkley added. "And I remember vets always telling me this and you know I believed them, but you don't really know something until you go through it."

Ultimately, the Eagles offered him a three-year, $37.7 million deal worth up to $46.7 million, the Giants reportedly didn't make him an offer at all and Barkley headed south to Philadelphia.

Mara may be sick now, but he'll be downright despondent if his former running back regularly torches the Giants.