In preparation for his or her one hundredth season, the Giants will lastly make their “Laborious Knocks” debut, however with a slight twist.
On Wednesday, it was introduced that New York could be the featured crew for the HBO franchise’s first offseason installment, which will probably be a five-part sequence premiering on July 2. Regardless that the Giants won’t have essentially the most thrilling roster, few groups had a extra eventful and dramatic offseason, setting the stage for what could possibly be one of many higher seasons of “Laborious Knocks.”
With that in thoughts, listed below are 4 compelling storylines we hope will probably be extensively featured on “Laborious Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.”
Working again Saquon Barkley indicators with the Eagles
Probably the most noteworthy growth of New York’s offseason undoubtedly was Barkley’s determination to hitch the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75M deal. The previous No. 2 total choose was essentially the most outstanding participant on the Giants during the last six seasons, and whereas he did not expertise a lot crew success, he leaves because the franchise’s fourth all-time main rusher (5,211 yards).
Barkley re-signing with the Giants appeared unlikely, contemplating they could not comply with an extension after greater than a yr of negotiations as a result of the crew was unwilling to take a position closely in an growing old working again. Spurning New York for a division rival was shocking and can certainly make for a dramatic episode. Hopefully, HBO will present the unfiltered reactions members of New York’s entrance workplace, teaching workers and roster had after studying about Barkley’s deal.
It is also price mentioning that because the filming for this installment of “Laborious Knocks” started in January, Barkley was nonetheless a member of the Giants. Maybe there will be some footage of Barkley addressing his intentions for his free-agent course of within the opening scene of an episode.
The commerce for edge-rusher Brian Burns
Though the Giants misplaced two franchise cornerstones in Barkley and security Xavier McKinney, the primary day of the free-agent authorized tampering interval wasn’t an entire catastrophe. New York swung a blockbuster take care of the Carolina Panthers, buying and selling the Nos. 39 and 141 picks in final month’s draft and a 2025 fifth-round choice for Burns — a two-time Professional Bowler — and a 2024 fifth-rounder.
Moreover, the Giants instantly locked up Burns long-term, signing the 26-year-old to an enormous five-year contract extension price as much as $150M, together with $87.5M assured.
So long as HBO does not water down the content material, very similar to it did when overlaying the Jets final offseason, this could possibly be essentially the most fascinating scenario to observe unfold. With the fallout of Barkley and McKinney’s respective departures to the complicated commerce and contract negotiations involving Burns, HBO has a superb alternative to present viewers a behind-the-scenes expertise not like something beforehand seen on “Laborious Knocks.”
The pre-draft course of
New York was one of many extra intriguing groups to observe all through the pre-draft course of, as there was loads of smoke that it was severely contemplating deciding on QB Daniel Jones’ successor.
The Giants dedicated a controversial four-year $160M contract extension to Jones final offseason, just for the previous first-round choose to battle mightily in six video games of an injury-plagued 2023 season. Since New York can get out of Jones’ contract subsequent offseason, GM Joe Schoen spent appreciable time evaluating the extremely touted 2024 rookie quarterback class. New York in the end chosen LSU broad receiver Malik Nabers with its sixth total choose, although it aggressively tried to commerce as much as draft now-Patriots QB Drake Maye, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
It is unlikely that the failed try for Maye will probably be featured, particularly because the Giants are sticking with Jones for 2024. Nevertheless, it’s going to be fascinating to see whether or not HBO at the least consists of the pre-draft visits the crew had with the highest quarterback prospects or if it brushes over New York’s curiosity in deciding on a signal-caller solely. Even so, getting an inside have a look at a crew’s pre-draft course of and the conflict room on draft day is certain to be entertaining.
The Wink Martindale saga
If HBO is prepared to dive deep into this subject, the primary episode of “Laborious Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” will probably be nothing in need of dramatic.
In January, the Giants introduced they anticipated DC Don “Wink” Martindale again for this season and fired exterior linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. The brothers have been two of Martindale’s closest assistants, which prompted him to curse out head coach Brian Daboll and storm out of New York’s observe facility. Because of this and beforehand reported friction between Daboll and Martindale, the Giants and the defensive coordinator agreed to half methods on Jan. 10.
The messy divorce should be addressed in some capability, however HBO has quite a lot of methods to painting it. The Giants may resolve to save lots of face by downplaying the scenario or as a substitute take a closing parting shot at Martindale as a strategy to present help for Daboll, who some imagine could possibly be on the recent seat in 2024.
