Saquon Barkley explains how Brian Daboll is changing the Giants’ culture | Ekeler’s Edge

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler and Yahoo Sports’ Fantasy Analyst Matt Harmon are joined by New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. The Big Apple superstar explains what new head coach Brian Daboll has done to change the mindset and performance of the G-Men. Saqoun Barkley joins Yahoo Sports on behalf of Courtyard by Marriott. Courtyard by Marriott is teaming up with Saquon Barkley to launch the season long program “This is Where We Fan” that will award passionate fans with unrivaled access to the biggest nights in football. For more information on the official rules, visit www.Courtyard.com/NFL. Catch fresh episodes of Ekeler’s Edge every Wednesday on Yahoo Sports and your favorite social media platforms. Listen to Ekeler’s Edge on the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast wherever you get podcasts.

Video transcript

[INTRO MUSIC]

MATT HARMON: One thing I wanted to touch base with you on is the culture of the Giants right now. You know, I'm watching the Week One game against Titans. Brian Daboll goes for that 2-point conversion, you guys win the game on that. And you and Sterling Shepard, guys that have been with the Giants for a long time, you're like, all up on Brian Daboll. Like, getting gassed up about it. What has Brian and this whole kind of organizational shift brought to the team, man?

SAQUON BARKLEY: It's the standard, and that's what you need when you want to change the culture. And that's really what it comes down to winning football games. It's all about the culture. And it started with the coaches, and then it goes down to the players, and we got to hold that standard when every single day come in with that leadership and that mindset.

And something that we-- have a really good group of guys. We're very competitive and a competitive bunch. We're never going to lose games off of not coming out there and fighting to the last whistle. And that's a mindset that we all have. And right now like I said, 2 and 1. Obviously, we're not excited with the way last night went.

But it may not be the sexy way, it may not be the [INAUDIBLE], we may not be putting up 40 points. But the two wins that we did get, you got to find a way and grind, man. The thing that I'm most proud about this team, there's no panic. Even last night, until that last play, to the pick. Until they took the knee, we really believe that we were gonna come back and win that game.

When we looked up and it was 23-16, and it was a 1:48, 1:45 on the clock, we really believed that we could go down and find a way to win the game. And that's just a mindset that we got to continue to have, that competitive stamina, and continue to believe in each other.

MATT HARMON: Saquon, you're here on behalf of Courtyard by Marriott. Tell us a little bit about what you got going on there, man.

SAQUON BARKLEY: Yeah, I'm here on behalf of Courtyard Marriott, the official hotel of the NFL. And they're coming out with a new all season-long thing for fans where fans can really tap into their fandom and give them some unique cool experience.

This is where [INAUDIBLE] called, and we have a Fansgiving where fans can come on the 50-yard line at MetLife Stadium, have a dinner with me, and get to see MetLife Stadium, get all the cool experience there, the backstages and all that. And the way they can do that is by posting a video on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and tagging #CourtyardFanContest.

I'm excited. I'm excited to work with Courtyard. I'm all about giving back and having an opportunity to give back to fans and spend time with fans, and I think it's a cool, unique experience.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, that's sick. I love-- I'm big into fan engagement too, man. Because it's like, the smallest interaction can go so far for somebody's life, right? As far as putting them on, maybe they gain some new motivation, or maybe they gain a new respect for you. And that's helping you grow your brand and your reputation.

Because as-- I've said this before, but our legacy lives within our fans, right? Like, what people think of Saquon is what people-- like, that's where your legacy is, you know? And so it's like, that's why it's so important to give back, that's why it's so important to have some type of engagement. Because if you don't have anything, then now you're leaving it up to other people's judgment.

You're not steering. You can't necessarily steer it like it's a car. It's more like a boat, like a big boat. Where you can steer and it takes time for that thing to turn. But you got to keep putting effort into it to get that thing to turn. So, man, go and get yourself some dinner with Saquon. That's what's up.