#Giants change stance on Saquon Barkley contract talks

The Giants won’t rule out an in-season contract extension for Saquon Barkley, granted he returns to form following a torn ACL last year.

Previously, general manager Dave Gettleman was against such moves. But times have changed.

“I think that it depends upon the guy,” he said on Tuesday. “I think it depends on where the team is at and I used to feel like it was a bad idea, but not so much [now]. Have I changed my idea on that? Yes. I’m a lot more flexible on that.”

Barkley first has to show he’s the same player he was before suffering the major knee injury. The 2018 No. 2 overall draft pick returned to practice last week, but has yet to take part in live team drills and won’t be doing so in this week’s joint practices with the Browns. It remains uncertain if Barkley, who has one year left on his four-year rookie deal after this coming season, will play in Big Blue’s last two preseason contests.

The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, the 24-year-old Barkley was injured in Week 2 last year after a mediocre-for-him second season that was slowed by a severe ankle injury. He is the only Giants running back to rush for at least 1,000 yards in his first two seasons.

“You need to see him back on the field producing, which we expect that to be the case. Our medical people feel very good about where he’s at right now,” owner John Mara said. “I like what I’ve seen from him out on the field. Hopefully that will be an easy decision for us as well.”