EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – On Sunday night, a little boy sat in MetLife Stadium watching the New York Giants play the Cincinnati Bengals. He wore a blue jersey with Saquon Barkley's number 26. A few seats away sat a man in his 20s who was also wearing a blue Giants 26 jersey, except that Barkley's name was plastered over the back with a makeshift “Singletary” lettering.

This is the delicate situation that exists for Giants fans. Running back Devin Singletary now wears 26 for New York in his first season with the Giants. Barkley, the star running back who has been the face of the franchise for the past six seasons, joined the rival Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in March.

The decision sparked an outcry. Former Giants running back Tiki Barber declared on his WFAN radio show at the time: “You're dead to us!” The ironic comment seemed to speak to a large portion of the fan base on social media, where the nickname “Snaquon Barkley” was also used. emerged.

Barkley took offense and shot back at Barber. He didn't seem to like that he had made what he considered a business decision. He received several million dollars more in guaranteed money (a total of $26 million) than the Giants offered during their nearly two-year negotiations dating back to bye week in the 2022 season.

New York general manager Joe Schoen never formally offered Barkley a contract last offseason. This led to the much-discussed scene on the HBO series “Hard Knocks” in which owner John Mara said he would “sleep hard if Saquon goes to Philadelphia.”

The Giants were not pleased that the framework of a deal was reportedly finalized before the free agent negotiating window began, front office sources told ESPN. The Eagles didn't understand why the Giants cared, considering they made no real push to re-sign the player they drafted No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

That brings us to Week 7, where Barkley, no longer a fan favorite, returns to MetLife Stadium for the first time since signing with the division rival 90 miles south (1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Fox). Barkley has learned what it means to switch sides in this rivalry that began more than 90 years ago and is based on moments like the Miracle at the Meadowlands. It is intended to create an electrifying atmosphere with bubbling emotions.

“I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed,” Barkley said. “I look at it this way: The Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Football Giants probably played over 200 games. This rivalry existed before me and it will continue after me.”

BARKLEY IS TALL on the topic of visualization. This is something he believes he has done throughout his career.

So before he steps onto the MetLife Stadium turf in a visitor's uniform on Sunday, he will have imagined big scenes from the upcoming game with the intention of manifesting them.

“I'm pretty sure I can see myself breaking up a long touchdown run,” Barkley told ESPN, “making plays there. That goes a long way.”

One thing Barkley finds difficult to imagine is an overreaction from the Giants faithful.

“Maybe I'm naive, but I think it's over. This chapter is closed,” he said before Week 6. “I really don't care, and I'm pretty sure the fans don't care.”

While that doesn't match the general expectations for Sunday's game, it does reflect the mindset he's adopted since signing a three-year, $37.75 million free agent contract with the Eagles last offseason has.

At his opening press conference, he admitted that it was “definitely a little different” putting on an Eagles hoodie for the first time and seeing his daughter Jada in green after being on the “worse side of the rivalry.” I guess you could say in the last few years.

But that strangeness has “definitely faded” as the weeks have gone on. He welcomed the new beginning and said he felt like a newbie again. He marveled at the talent in the group with him, from Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith to AJ Brown. He has immersed himself in the culture and actively worked to build relationships in the locker room – from going head-to-head with Hurts on the squat rack to golfing with a variety of teammates during their free time.

Seeing Barkley with wings on his helmet feels more and more normal to observers as time goes on. He was a bright spot on a 3-2 Eagles team that hasn't got it all together, ranking third in average rushing yards per game (96.4) with five total touchdowns. Barkley became the first player in franchise history to record over 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first four games to start the year.

“I can't tell you how many times I shook my head really, man, that was an unbelievable hit,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said after Barkley rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3 against the Saints. “And he makes those cuts at 230 pounds. Oh, plus he makes those cuts at a speed of 4.3. Who's like him, you know what I mean?

“You see all his plays, but what a teammate he is. He tries hard. … I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Giants fans saw that unique ability up close for six seasons: Barkley racked up 2,600 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns at MetLife Stadium during his time in blue and will have a chance to add to that number on Sunday.

THERE ARE 110 Players who played for both the Giants and Eagles during their careers. These include quarterback Norm Snead, tight end Mark Bavaro, running back and kick returner Brian Mitchell, wide receiver Steve Smith and linebacker Carlos Emmons, to name a few.

Nobody is Saquon Barkley. He is the rare star who has jumped straight from one rival to another in the prime of his career.

Giants left guard Jon Runyan Jr. understands the fine line between appreciation and spite. He grew up an Eagles fan — his father, Jon Runyan, was a Pro Bowl right tackle in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2008 — but knows his association with the other side of the rivalry doesn't give him a free pass.

“If I was an Eagles fan, I would have loved it,” Runyan said of Barkley’s move. “But if I were a Giants fan, I certainly would have felt cheated.”

There is one player on the Giants' active roster who played for the Eagles. Linebacker and special teamer Patrick Johnson, who played in 54 games as an Eagle from 2021 to 2024, including an appearance in Super Bowl LVII, was claimed off waivers a few weeks ago. The Eagles have former Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates and wide receiver Parris Campbell in Barkley.

Team changes are more common today than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Free agency has certainly changed the landscape, but also the economy.

Barber, who says he likes Barkley personally and even picked him for his fantasy team despite his comments earlier this year, insists a move to the Eagles is not a move he made during his playing career (1997-2006). would have done. He is the leading rusher in Giants history with 10,449 rushing yards – almost twice as many as Barkley had in New York.

“The discrepancy in money was no longer the same as it is now. You would basically get the same thing no matter where you went or what you did,” Barber said. “That wouldn’t have made any sense. In my day the rivalry was real. It wasn't, 'Oh, I know these guys. That's cool.' It was real. You hated her.

“Since money wasn’t a big issue, it was just worth it for the fans to stay.”

After five games with a different team, Barkley downplayed the move.

“Nothing else. You get to know the culture. You get used to the change. “I guess because I'm a high-profile guy or a well-known name in the league (that gets more attention), but I'm not the first player to play for a division rival,” he said.

“(Cleveland linebacker) Devin Bush used to be with the Steelers. (Former Raven linebacker) Patrick Queen is now with the Steelers. (Safety) Geno Stone was with the Ravens and is now with the Bengals. This is common. … That’s part of the NFL.”

The Eagles running back remains tied to the Giants. His situation has been closely monitored by his former locker room and he remains in contact with several of his former teammates.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones told ESPN that the two “talk frequently” after years of spending time together on and off the field. Barkley texted Jones to keep his head up after a tough start and congratulate him on the Giants' first win of the season in Week 3 at Cleveland.

Conversely, Jones and the Giants have closely monitored Barkley's performance in Philadelphia. Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton reposted a clip of Barkley's heroics on Instagram a few weeks ago. Jones has seen some of Barkley in Eagles green.

“It's a little different. “I’m just used to being on the field with him and seeing him in Giants colors,” Jones said. “So yeah, seeing him in an Eagles jersey for the first time was definitely a little different.”

Barber believes there will be mixed reactions to Barkley's return to MetLife. There will be those who respect what he has done in six seasons. But there's a chance the vocal majority will express their distaste for the new colors he's wearing.

“It adds another layer to the rivalry,” Barber said.