Episode 3 of Hard Knocks was all about Saquon Barkley, culminating with this clip between the front office and Giants owner and John Mara that should make every Eagles fan smile:

I can’t believe some of the behind the scenes stuff the Giants are letting get out this year. Did they know they had final edit? Because there’s nobody who tries to protect their image more than the Maras. The NFL is all they have. They swore they’d never let Hard Knocks cameras in the building and now we know why. Because it’s a shit show. Immediately in this clip you can tell Joe Schoen never wanted Saquon back. He always was comfortable with him leaving. He basically laughed in the guy who signs his paychecks’ face and told him to go take a nap, grandpa. I honestly thought John Mara was going to cry when he gave his impassioned speech about being the most popular player on the team. Man what a season. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I absolutely LOVE it!

They must be having a field day in New York. There is no shot Joe Schoen can keep his job if they miss the playoffs. The show has made him look like a buffoon. He’s behind the eight ball on everything. In the beginning of the episode he’s talking with Saquon’s agent and assumes if they match a team’s offer he’ll be a Giant. Saquon’s agent balks and Schoen is shocked as to why. Does he not remember paying the QB $40 million a year while franchise tagging his best asset and pissing him off because they wouldn’t give him a deal?

Inject this into my veins:

That “we’re gonna be fine” was like when your kid runs into the coffee table and you’re trying to immediately stop them from bawling their eyes out.


And listen, I can put on my Kelly Green-colored glasses and rah rah it up, but I’ll admit Joe Schoen could be right about Saquon. I don’t think he will be, but he could. Maybe he’s got some ankle medicals that the Eagles don’t. Maybe he thinks Saquon’s best years are behind him. I personally think the Giants never gave him a line he could perform behind, but we’ll see how it plays out. I don’t like owners meddling in free agency decisions either. But I just think the constant championing of Daniel Jones this season was so over the top that Schoen convinced himself that Saquon sucks and what the Eagles offered him was bananas. Because he mentioned offering him $12.5 APY and $25 million guaranteed on the show:

Saquon signed with the Birds for $12.6 APY and $26 mil guaranteed. Seems like someone got caught with their pants down.