As Hard Knocks debuts a new offseason edition with the New York Giants, Joe Schoen reveals a key detail
The New York Giants are the subject of the first-ever “offseason” edition of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show which debuts on July 2nd. The series will document the offseason for the Giants including some key decisions made by general manager Joe Schoen.
With it being a new version and the New York Giants being the test hamster in this version, there are likely going to be some things that fans point out that they like or dislike. But right away, Schoen pointed to something that the show could have to figure in for future versions.
“It was a little uncomfortable at first,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said via the New York Post. “We were able to get used to the cameras being around. You’d be in your office and I’d look and it hadn’t moved yet today or we’d have a conversation with somebody and next thing you know you see the camera moving and zooming in on somebody.
“I think NFL Films does a great job, I think it’s going to be a good project but I never fully got comfortable with the cameras being around you the whole time.’’
Schoen will be a central figure in this series being the general manager and having a say on the moves the Giants have made through free agency and the draft. That includes a preview of how he had to deal with running back Saquon Barkley leaving to join the Philadelphia Eagles.
Having the cameras around you every day isn’t an easy thing to get used to and Schoen had to learn that first-hand with the Giants making their debut on this version. However, head coach Brian Daboll found a workaround with filming to block out certain conversations.
“Joe had the cameras in his office,’’ Daboll said. “I figured out pretty early on in the process I could bring my phone, put some music on, go into his office and they couldn’t play it without me listening to whatever music I was listening to, I’d be talking to Joe and I knew that part wouldn’t be on the show.” So for me it was great. Those cameras were kind of everywhere but not as much in the coaching offices. It was great for Joe.’
What should we expect from Hard Knocks with the Giants?
This will be the debut for the Giants on Hard Knocks and it comes with a very interesting offseason that the franchise had. We already mentioned the departure of Barkley to a rival but there were decisions made to not target a quarterback early in the draft and instead add a wide receiver in Malik Nabers.
With this being the offseason version, we also get the chance to see how they interacted with NFL draft prospects as well. We shouldn’t expect to see or hear anything that puts down prospects or the full process behind the team’s big board for the draft or free agency but there will be a unique look to this.
It also comes on the heels of the Chicago Bears being on the show with rookie quarterback Caleb Willams being the big storyline. That is set to release in early August.
Time will tell what changes the crew will make to this version of Hard Knocks as we will have to wait and see starting tonight.
