Kayvon Thibodeaux addresses controversial Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones take

Pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux generated headlines when he said in January that the New York Giants should have paid running back Saquon Barkley "first" before they locked quarterback Daniel Jones down in March 2023 via a four-year contract.

Thibodeaux touched upon the subject during a recent appearance on "The Pivot Podcast."

"When I look at the Saquon Barkley situation, that man put a lot of work in," Thibodeaux explained, as shared by Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "I’m not the bookkeeper. I’m ignorant to the deals on who is negotiating and who is holding out. From a player perspective…when you are in that sport and playing for the guys next to you, it hurts when you know that the heart and soul of your team, he doesn’t feel like he’s getting treated [right]. Regardless of what I feel about it. Because it’s not my money."

Much has changed since Barkley signed what was essentially an adjusted franchise tag to feature for the 2023 Giants. Jones largely disappointed with his play last season before he suffered a torn ACL in November, while Barkley left the club as a free agent in March and signed with the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Giants general manager Joe Schoen later actively explored acquiring Jones' replacement in this year's draft, and it's now no secret the team could part ways with the 27-year-old next offseason.

With all of that said, Jones is on track to serve as New York's QB1 for the Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8. Perhaps that reality had something to do with Thibodeaux singing somewhat of a different tune regarding the contract Jones signed roughly a year and a half ago.

"That’s our quarterback," Thibodeaux said about Jones. "He deserves every penny that he gets and he’s going to get. He’s going to lead us to do great things."

Multiple Giants teammates recently offered public support for Jones , but logic suggests he could lose the locker room if his shaky perf ormance in this past Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans offered a sign of things to come. For now, Thibodeaux and others inside the locker room have no choice but to back Jones and hope he reclaims the form that made him a postseason winner in January 2023.