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

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen took centerstage for the third episode of Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.

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.

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.

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.

Schoen ultimately got the deal done.

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.