Report: Barkley's handlers don't want Browns to draft him
Saquon Barkley and his army of supporters believe the star running back has the potential to become the next face of the NFL, but the Penn State product's handlers are reportedly concerned he might not accomplish that goal if the Cleveland Browns draft him.
Six weeks ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley spent time with Sports Illustrated's Ben Baskin and discussed the transcendent talent's lofty hopes - among them being the No. 1 overall pick on April 26. The Browns own both the first and fourth pick in the draft. That's a problem, according to Barkley's agency, Roc Nation.
"His Roc Nation handlers ... don't want him to be taken No. 1. They don't want him in Cleveland," Baskin reports. "They want him to go second to the Giants and play in the media capital of the world. That's where you can become the face of the league."
Barkley himself has stated no such thing. He's reportedly been telling close friends that if he's selected by the Browns and brings a championship to Cleveland, as LeBron James did with the NBA's Cavaliers, he'd be exalted as a hero.
According to Baskin, Barkley's manager "implored" the prospect to do as Eli Manning once did and demand that the team with the first pick doesn't draft him so he can wind up in New York.
Roc Nation subsequently denied that its representatives ever gave Barkley such advice.
"I can say on behalf of our entire team that we would be thrilled for Saquon to go to whichever team drafts him," agent Kim Miale told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on Wednesday.
Roc Nation built a 15-person team around Barkley with the intent of carving out a niche for him in football's marketing machine.
"The thing I want to do is build an image around myself. And do that safely and smartly," said the superstar of March's combine.