EAST RUTHERFORD -- "The Tweet!" is how Saquon Barkley reacts to seeing the out-of-place 20-by-30 poster board in my hand after Giants practice.

It's a matter-of-fact statement, like he is referencing a sports moment as timeless as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," "The Drive" or "The Miracle on Ice."

The truth is Barkley might go on to create an equally iconic memory with the Giants, but he will not soon forget the Scarlet Tweet I've worn since Sept. 19, 2015.

In the first half of Barkley's third career game at Penn State -- long before he was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft or a Heisman Trophy candidate, when he was just another four-star recruit in search of true freshman playing time - I published this:

#PennState RB Saquon Barkley is a former #RFootball commit. Not sure where he'd fit in this loaded backfield. #CHOPNation — Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) September 20, 2015

Three embattled years later, I'm in a NFL training facility unfurling a magnified image of the 121-character anchor that bonds me to the rookie running back.

I expected to see a confused look when I asked Barkley if he ever had seen it before -- just not on my own face. Suddenly, it didn't feel so #Ridiculous.

"I laughed," Barkley recalled. "Obviously people make their opinions and have their comments, and I really never acknowledge it. With Tweets, I maybe favorite it or send it to myself as a sidenote, but I do remember seeing this Tweet."

Barkley resists the urge to question my sanity. You will do it for him.

It shouldn't be new if you are a Rutgers or Penn State fan, a Schadenfreude, or a frequent reader of Freezing Cold Takes. The popular Twitter account for shaming hot-takes gone terribly wrong actually retired my Tweet after too much attention.

Barkley doesn't remember exactly when he first saw it, but he knows it was around the time of its creation. Probably the next day, when it caught on like a rumor around State College.

"You have to be careful," Barkley said. "You have to use social media the right way. You will make mistakes. It's stuff you learn from."

Barkley is too kind. This wasn't a mistake. It was a goal-line fumble in the final seconds of the Super Bowl.

I shouldn't be surprised Barkley has seen the Tweet. Penn State Nation made sure of it, while managing to confuse my original curiosity for doubting their future star's ability.

The Tweet has 472 ReTweets, 477 likes and hundreds more quote Tweets. It still sees regular action because of some elephant-memoried Penn State fan or some astonished first-timer stumbling upon it by accident.

"They are more than loyal," Barkley said. "They are fun on Twitter. Them coming at you, that's awesome."

Uh, thanks, Saquon?

Changed my mind



Some fan reactions are funny - a picture of my face on Colonel Sanders body, holding a bucket of Cold Takes. Others are misinformed or cruel.

Barkley understands my pain. He is mature beyond his years -- already a father -- but he is as active on social media as you would expect from any 21-year-old.

Barkley has 198,000 followers on Twitter and 821,000 on an Instagram page he tries to keep family friendly. Dozens undoubtedly soon will sound off and blame him for a lost fantasy football matchup or a newly legalized wager.

"I think you should be active because you want to interact with the positive stuff, with the fans," Barkley said. "You play this sport because you love it and you are passionate and a competitor, but it reminds you that you can have an impact on people's lives."

Most star athletes claim they do not read social media. Not this one.

"That's a lie," Barkley said. "Unless you are like Odell (Beckham) and have a hundred thousand million followers. Then you probably don't see it. But Twitter, especially verified people, I see it."

Barkley "hopes" he has changed my mind over the last three years. Yes, Saquon, you have ... even if I was slower to realize than most.

Norries Wilson was first. He offered an unknown Barkley his first scholarship and had greater misfortune than me on Sept. 19, 2015: He was Rutgers interim head coach as Barkley ran for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

"He hugged me and said, 'I knew I saw something special in you,'" Barkley said. "That touched my heart. If they didn't give me that start, maybe no one would've taken a chance on me. It was off of straight potential. That's the reason I'm here."

Lay off me



The Giants did not draft Barkley until April 26, but his ticket might as well have been punched as soon as I became a Giants beat reporter in mid-January.

That's how karma works, right? The Tweet that haunted me when we both were part of the Big Ten will live under my nose during his potentially Hall of Fame NFL career.

"The negative stuff, sometimes it motivates you," Barkley said. "You don't read too much into it, but I've seen multiple things said about me: I'm going to be a bust or this and that."

Because the Giants signed former Rutgers running back Robert Martin as an undrafted rookie -- did general manager Dave Gettleman see the Tweet, too? -- he and Barkley finally are part of the same "loaded backfield."

An alternative reality plays out in front of eyes at every practice.

"I think Rob Martin would laugh at that one, too," Barkley said. "I think it worked out for the best for both of us."

Indeed, it's a new era. So Barkley agreed to turn the page by ripping up the poster (watch the video above).

"Let's do it!" he said.

I feel the weight come off my shoulders with the sound of torn paper.

Then Barkley says the words I've longed to hear:

"That was fun. I'll tell them to lay off you now."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.

