Giants’ Barkley threatens hold out

In an interview on a podcast released Monday, Barkley discussed the negotiations leading up to Monday’s deadline for players on a franchise tag to reach a new multi-year deal with teams. The 26-year-old used an expletive several times in noting a holdout would thumb his nose at the Giants and his teammates and show them his true value.

Barkley and the Giants, who reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, failed to reach a new contract agreement on Monday, meaning the Penn State alum will earn $10.1 million this season.

The two sides talked until the 4 p.m. deadline but could not settle on a deal, even though the Giants reportedly offered one worth more than $12 million annually.

Barkley’s only comment after not getting a deal was a tweet: “It is what it is.”

During “The Money Matters” podcast recorded on July 11 — six days before the deadline — Barkley had hoped he would be able to get a new contract, noting his leverage would be to hold out, a move that he felt would hurt the team and his teammates. He felt it would show everyone how valuable he was to the team after rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards as well as 10 touchdowns last season.

“Anybody who knows me knows that’s not something I want to do,” Barkley said. “But is it something that crossed my mind, I never thought I would ever do that. But now I’m at a point where it’s like, ‘Jesus, I might have to take it to this level.’ Am I prepared and willing to take it to the level. I don’t know. That’s something I gotta sit down. I gotta sit down and talk to my family. I gotta sit down and talk to my team, gotta really strategize about this. Can’t just go off emotions.”

Barkley insisted all he wants to do is win and bring a title to New York.

PITTSBURGH — Coming off a breakout season, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has signed a new contract that will keep him with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the next five seasons.

The two sides announced the deal on Wednesday, a week before the Steelers reported to training camp. The 25-year-old Highsmith was in the final year of his rookie contract, and this will extend it through 2027.

A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, Highsmith has played in 49 career games, starting 38. He has 179 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 22 1/2 sacks, 41 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one interception.

Highsmith ranks first in the NFL for the most strip sacks (five) and forced fumbles (six) and is tied for second most in sacks (17.5) in his last 20 games, dating to Week 16 of the 2021 season. He also has recorded seven multiple sack games in his career.

Highsmith led the team with a career-high 14.5 sacks last season. The total was tied for sixth-most in the league, and fifth-most in Steelers history for a single season.

In addition, Highsmith’s team-high five forced fumbles were also tied for most in the NFL last year. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and one pass defensed.

BROWNS: Defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was cut by Cleveland on Wednesday after police opened an investigation into him being involved in an armed robbery.

BILLS: Ron Raccuia, who played the lead role in negotiating Buffalo’s new $1.54 billion stadium deal, is out as the Bills’ top executive, team owner Terry Pegula announced on Wednesday.

PACKERS: Green Bay’s profits fell 11.7% over the past fiscal year after a season in which it missed the playoffs and had a regular-season home game moved overseas.

TITANS: The misdemeanor simple-assault case against Tennessee linebacker Rashad Weaver has been closed. Weaver was charged in 2021 in Pittsburgh in an incident that occurred days before the Titans drafted him with a fourth-round pick.