Eagles deny violating tampering rule with Barkley

The Philadelphia Eagles denied on Wednesday impermissible contact between their general manager, Howie Roseman, and running back Saquon Barkley during the NFL's negotiating window before the start of free agency, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.

Barkley, who spent the last six seasons with the New York Giants, agreed to join the Eagles on a three-year, $37.7-million contract on Monday. James Franklin - the tailback's former coach at Penn State - then suggested that Roseman spoke directly to Barkley during the league's legal tampering period. NFL teams aren't allowed to contact players directly in that period unless the player doesn't have an agent and represents himself.

"For him now to come back and be able to play within the state, in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that Howie said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him was not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well," Franklin recently said, according to McManus.

However, an Eagles spokesperson said that all recruiting done by the team is facilitated through the agent. Free agency officially kicked off on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, and Philly officially announced Barkley minutes later.

The New York Giants haven't contacted the NFL, a source told McManus, who added that the league declined to comment on whether it plans to investigate the situation.

Barkley, 27, recorded 7,311 scrimmage yards and 47 total touchdowns in 74 appearances with the Giants after being drafted second overall in 2018. He played under a one-year contract in 2023 after being franchise tagged and reportedly didn't receive any contract offers from New York this offseason.