Barkley's ACL Rehab Plan Involves Controversial Giants Castoff

The New York Giants star running back Saquan Barkley missed almost the entire 2020 NFL season after tearing his ACL against the Chicago Bears in Week two. Barkley's rehab is a key component to the Giants hopes of contending for the NFC East crown in 2021 so it would have Giants' fans attention even without any outside help. However, when Barkley said he plans on reaching out to former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr the drama behind this ACL rehab gets kicked into overdrive.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan reports that during an interview promoting the Campbell's Chunky Million Meals Challenge Barkley set the stage for a pretty star-studded rehab.

"Only thing I do know that I have planned for sure, I'm definitely going to link up with [OBJ], Obviously Odell tore his knee a little too. I think we both need just being there. We're really good friends. Competing with each other and pushing each other will also be good too. That's the only thing I know for certain I will do. Everything else is up in the air."

Even though Barkley's rehab has all taken place at the Giants facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey so far he will soon head to the west coast and train with OBJ like he has done in the past. I have to believe this will cause some mixed emotions for Giants fans. On one hand, OBJ is a supreme athlete that has a stellar work ethic preparing his body but he's also someone that wanted out of New York. Beckham clearly got his wish when he was traded to the Cleveland Browns before the 2019 NFL season. Will Giants fans worry that OBJ could poison Saquan Barkley against the Giants and cause the former second overall pick to also want to be traded away from Big Blue?