Giants HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ 2024: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 3

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 17, 2024

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

This week, fans saw the official end of running back Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants. Big Blue ultimately never made a counteroffer to Barkley’s deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave the veteran a three-year, $37.75 million contract ($26 million fully guaranteed) that could be worth up to $46.75 million.

Barkley was once the Giants’ superstar after going second overall in the 2018 NFL draft. He largely fared well with Big Blue when healthy, making two Pro Bowls and finishing with 7,311 total yards and 47 touchdowns. And he was also a popular star as well, one that Giants owner John Mara clearly didn’t want to see go, let alone to the hated rival Eagles.

Spartan Mike (NYG) @SpartanMike96John Mara: “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly”

But the Giants have the NFL’s worst record over the past 10 years (32-67-1) and are coming off a 6-11 season. The team has plenty of needs, and paying a running back $26 million guaranteed is a luxury Big Blue can’t afford. And so Barkley is out, and former Buffalo Bill and Houston Texan Devin Singletary is in.

Fans reacted to seeing the Barkley drama unfold on screen and specifically noted the reaction from Mara, who clearly had an emotional connection to a player that meant so much to the franchise since arriving in 2018.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲 @TheBlueZoneeJohn Mara pulled up in Joe Schoen’s office after Saquon signed with the Eagles as if he was ready to throw hands lol.

It’s clear from #HardKnocks Joe Schoen was never in love with paying a running back that type of money.
And he lands his guy he wanted all along#Giants100

Marcus Blackstock @Imagine_Life2So Giants fans still riding with the lie Schoen offered Saquon a final contract 👀😂👀 pic.twitter.com/BOXjKB2VH8

Dan Schneier @DanSchneierNFLJohn Mara talked about losing sleep over the Eagles signing Saquon Barkley because “he was our most popular player BY FAR” but why should that matter most to him? Do you build Super Bowl contenders by accruing the most popular players? #Giants #HardKnocks

GPOgiants (Malik Nabers enthusiast) @GPOGiants1999John Mara and Joe Schoen fighting over weather or not overpaying Saquon is a good idea#Giants100

pic.twitter.com/oGgkuVOWl7 https://t.co/lfvunJV0g1

Tanner N @n_tanner559I see it as both saquon & the @Giants were content with just moving on from one another.

Rique @CoolidgeRiqueMara looks like he wants to throw up when Saquon left

Belt Guy @ThisIsNotZainJohn Mara was hurting when he heard about Saquon, man walked out of that room in pain

So Barkley is out, but Brian Burns is in. The Giants landed the prized pass-rusher from the Carolina Panthers for a 2024 second-round draft choice (No. 39), a 2025 fifth-round selection and a fifth-round pick swap. Big Blue then signed Burns to a five-year, $141 million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed.

The Hard Knocks cameras captured Schoen negotiating with Panthers general manager Dan Morgan. The two notably go back to their days with the Buffalo Bills (they overlapped from 2018-2010) when both worked in the franchise’s front office.

New York Giants @GiantsJoe Schoen’s final negotiations to seal the Brian Burns trade

New episode of #HardKnocks Offseason with the New York Giants airs tonight at 9pm ET on @StreamOnMax #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/gV9na2G16M

Schoen ultimately got the deal done.

Dan Schneier @DanSchneierNFLIt was awesome hearing Joe Schoen refuse to get nickel and dimed by the Panthers in the final stages of the #Giants trade for Brian Burns. Ultimately they met somewhere in the middle.

Spartan Mike (NYG) @SpartanMike96This man hit it out of the park with the Brian Burns trade pic.twitter.com/PABWwr5C3P

The fourth episode of the five-part series will debut on Tuesday, July 23 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can catch it on HBO and stream it on Max.