After enduring two Super Bowl losses to the New York Giants, Tom Brady likely enjoys every chance he gets to tease his old rival. Currently, there are numerous reasons to poke fun at the Giants, especially regarding their management of Saquon Barkley’s free agency. As Brady watched Barkley excel, scoring three touchdowns that propelled the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFC Championship Game victory over the Washington Commanders, he couldn’t resist a dad joke aimed at the Giants.
During the fourth quarter, play-by-play commentator Kevin Burkhardt highlighted Barkley’s superb performance, stating, “Giants fans may have a tough time sleeping going forward.” This remark subtly referenced Hard Knocks: Offseason, where Giants owner John Mara expressed concerns about sleeping if Barkley were to join the Eagles. Not to be outdone, Brady seized the moment once Burkhardt finished discussing Barkley’s impressive stats and quipped, “Giant mistake letting him go.”
Get it? Giant mistake…by the Giants. Brady had likely been waiting for the perfect moment to deliver that punchline, which finally arrived in the fourth quarter.
In hindsight, this decision looks like a major blunder for the Giants. Barkley had an MVP-caliber season with the Eagles, leading them to a Super Bowl, while the Giants stumbled to a 3-14 record, illustrating that they remain a franchise in disarray. Although it’s easy to criticize the Giants for parting with Barkley, they were — and still are — not in a position to significantly invest in veteran running backs.
