For the first time in their history, the New York Giants appeared on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer…but with a bit of a twist.
As opposed to the traditional training camp version, “Hard Knocks” pivoted to a brand new iteration, “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants,” which focused more on front-office decisions and scouting.
Many across the NFL thoroughly enjoyed the fresh coat of paint on an old favorite, praising the show as a true behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of an organization. But there were also plenty of detractors.
In their annual poll of NFL agents, The Athletic discovered that several view the docuseries as a brand new black eye for the Giants franchise.
“I think Schoen is a good GM, but this made him and the organization look bad,” one anonymous agent said.
Others shared similar sentiments.
“Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder — and the series did not help the team,” another said.
“It’s probably a choice the Giants regret. They revealed too much,” a third said. “This portrayal will be something other teams will consider in the future.”
None of that criticism compared to the final anonymous agent, who offered a scathing take on “Hard Knocks,” as well as general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
“Embarrassing to the organization,” the agent said. “It will easily justify mass firings when they go 4-13.”
Giants co-owner John Mara had been vehemently opposed to the team appearing on “Hard Knocks” since its inception in 2001. However, with the Giants celebrating their 100th season, he felt it may aid in honoring the franchise’s history while also giving back to the fans.
Reviews like this will make Mara think twice before ever appearing on the docuseries again.
