Saquon Barkley's agent: We're not steering RB away from Browns in NFL draft
The agent for Saquon Barkley said the running back prospect will not pull an Eli Manning and preemptively refuse to join the Cleveland Browns in response to a report that the agency had pushed for such a move.
"I can say on behalf of our entire team that we would be thrilled for Saquon to go to whichever team drafts him,' Kim Miale, Barkley’s agent, told cleveland.com on Wednesday. "We know he will be a resounding success for any team fortunate enough to select him.''
SI.com reported Barkley’s manager at Roc Nation, the sports agency founded by Jay Z, pushed for the former Penn State standout rusher to do what Manning did in the lead-up to the 2004 NFL draft. Manning’s agent Tom Condon told the San Diego Chargers that his client would sit out the season if the Chargers drafted him.
The Chargers did select Manning first overall, but he was traded to the New York Giants later that day.
SI.com reported that Barkley never considered that option.
Sports Illustrated said in a statement to Paste BN Sports that it "continues to stand by its reporting" in response to the Miale's comments.
Messages left with Miale by Paste BN Sports were not immediately returned. The agency also counts Browns coach Hue Jackson as a client.