Giants HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2024: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 1
July 3, 2024
New York Giants fans got a glimpse into the process behind some of the biggest decisions of the 2024 offseason in the Tuesday night premiere of HBO's Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.
The episode delved into both the decision-making that led to Saquon Barkley leaving for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Brian Burns trade with the Carolina Panthers.
It also showed Giants leadership professing their faith in sixth-year quarterback Daniel Jones.
NFL Films @NFLFilmsPressure makes diamonds. <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HardKnocks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HardKnocks</a> Offseason with the <a href="https://twitter.com/Giants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Giants</a> starts NOW on <a href="https://twitter.com/StreamOnMax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StreamonMax</a> <a href="https://t.co/hSHkRN13L8">pic.twitter.com/hSHkRN13L8</a>
Bobby Skinner @BobbySkinner_Initial thoughts on Giants Hard Knocks episode 1<br><br>•The Brian Burns trade starting as Dan Morgan offering for 2 1sts and ending up at a 2nd & 5th is why Schoen's best area as GM has been trades<br>•John Mara didn't want to let Saquon go with the offense that bad and even suggested…
Mike @MikeForcellaBiggest quotes from Hard Knocks imo<br><br>"We started three practice squad players (offensive line) against Miami."<br><br>"We're paying him 40 million dollars to throw the ball not hand it off to a 12 million dollar back."<br><br>"Please let Malik Nabers be there." <br>Joe is just like me fr 😪
Adam Bernstein @AdamBernstein18Takeaways from Hard Knocks:<br><br>- Schoen was looking at all other options at RB and pursued Singletary, Swift, Jacobs, and Pollard in free agency.<br>- Daniel Jones' injury is concerning but Schoen believes this is his year.<br>- Brian Burns was always on their radar.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Giants100</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GMENHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GMENHQ</a>
The episode showed a conversation between Giants general manager Joe Schoen and owner John Mara about whether the franchise could afford to keep Barkley.
"In a perfect world, I'd still like to have him back until we can prove that we can have a decent offense without him," Mara told Schoen.
Schoen then told Mara that the team needed to focus on allocating resources toward quarterback Daniel Jones.
Barkley ended up signing with the Philadephia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal.
The episode also showed Giants leadership discussing Jones, and who the quarterback could be next season behind an improved offensive line.
Schoen blamed "three serious injuries in two years" for Jones' past offensive struggles, but made it clear the 2024 campaign will need to be a breakout season for the quarterback currently taking up 20 percent of the Giants' cap.
Jones is heading into the second season of his four-year, $160 million deal in New York.
NYGfaninCLT @clt_nyThe final lines:<br><br>Schoen: "This is the year for Daniel. The plan all along was give him a couple years. Is he our guy for the next ten years or do we need to pivot and find somebody else?"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HardKnocks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HardKnocks</a>
Vibes - Eli Racks @IamEliRacksJoe Schoen is saying the same thing we're thinking. Daniel Jones has to step up, or they'll pivot. <br><br>This is the year he'll have to prove his worth. Can Daniel answer the bell? <br><br>"You don't pay anyone $40m to hand the ball over to a $12m back." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Giants100</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HardKnocks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HardKnocks</a>
The episode also revealed the moment that Schoen learned from Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan that the team would be willing to make a trade for franchise-tagged outside linebacker Brian Burns.
"You wanna give us two ones for Burns?" Morgan asked Schoen, later adjusting that request to "a one and something."
"Okay, you're headed in the right direction," Schoen said.
One month later, Schoen and the Giants traded 2024 second- and fifth-round picks as well as a 2025 conditional first-rounder to Morgan and the Panthers in exchange for Burns and a 2024 fourth-round pick.
The Giants held on to their 2024 first-rounder, which the team used to draft Malik Nabers at No. 6.
Alex Wilson @AlexWilsonESMJoe Schoen is a smart GM -- just throw out ideas and thoughts until you gather a little piece of information that can make your team better.<br><br>Burns is by far the best edge rusher we've had in a long time. Giants' D-line will be LEGIT for the first time in a long time. <a href="https://t.co/yVEfRXQPBW">https://t.co/yVEfRXQPBW</a>
Giants fans will need to wait until next Tuesday to learn more when Episode 2 premieres at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.