During the final moments from episode 2 of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants,” which aired on Tuesday night, Giants general manager Joe Schoen was shown speaking with running back Saquon Barkley over the phone.
The call, which seemed very chilly in nature, centered around the Giants’ decision to let Barkley test the free agent market while seeking assurances that he’d allow them the option to match any potential contract offer.
It was the culmination of nearly two years of negotiation that yielded no fruit and effectively served as a goodbye given what we know transpired shortly thereafter.
After having seemingly watched the episode a day late, Philadelphia Eagles radio host Howard Eskin offered a critique of the scene and the conversation, calling it “asinine” and labeling Schoen an “idiot.”
This conversation between Saquon Barkley and #NYGiants GM Joe Schoen I assume Saquon thought was private. Fact that Giants allowed “Hard Knocks” put it out there publicly is a disgrace. What an asinine conversation by Schoen as well. Why would Barkley want to play for that… pic.twitter.com/pVRtRFJS6Y
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) July 10, 2024
Ironically, Eskin, who was recently suspended from Phillies home games for the rest of the season after allegedly kissing a Citizens Bank Park’s food service provider without consent, seems uneducated on the level of editorial control the Giants have on the show.
Although the Giants were granted editorial control, that is only applied to instances in which there becomes a clear competitive disadvantage. The phone call between Schoen and Barkley does not fall under that purview and therefore the Giants had no say in whether or not it was shown.
Perhaps more interesting is Eskin’s sudden shift in opinion on both Schoen and Barkley.
Almost a year ago to the day, back in July of 2023, Eskin praised Schoen for not signing Barkley to a long-term deal, calling it a “mistake” for the team to have selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL draft.
Unfortunetly for #Eagles fans, #NYGiants have done right thing not signing Saquon Barkley to a long term contract. Trying to move on from mistake they made drafting him number 2. RB’s need to realize its mistake for teams to resign that player after rookie deal. They always get…
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) July 17, 2023
Oopsie daisy. That’s a little egg on the face.
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