HBO’s Hard Knocks: Offseason debut has included John Mara cameos, with the owner staying involved in the team’s effort (or lack thereof) to retain Saquon Barkley. After GM Joe Schoen ran down the team’s priorities, Mara still makes it somewhat clear he wants his staff to keep the door open for a return.
As the legal tampering period began, the Giants‘ front office — after passing on a second franchise tag and informing Barkley no offer will come before he hits the market — braced for a departure. After Schoen informed Mara of a text he received that the Bears were driving up Barkley’s price, the owner voiced his long-held preference for the seventh-year veteran to be re-signed. Though, Mara ultimately did not stand in Schoen’s way.
“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” Mara told Schoen. “As I’ve told you, just being around enough players, he’s the most popular player we have, by far.”
The Bears made D’Andre Swift the first commitment of this year’s tampering period, giving the former Eagles and Lions starter a three-year, $24MM deal. That ended up being second among RBs this offseason, with Barkley’s three-year, $37.75MM Eagles deal ($26MM guaranteed at signing) the runaway winner. Swift’s price tag ultimately led to the Eagles pursuing Barkley.
While Barkley’s agent indeed brought the RB’s Philly offer back to the Giants, Schoen did not receive assurances the two-time Pro Bowler would return if the team matched it.
“I told the agent, I said if we match that deal, he’s going to be a Giant,” Schoen said in a conversation with Mara on March 11. “And he’s like, ‘Well…’ You know, he hemmed and hawed, he’s like, ‘I’m not saying that; we’ve got a lot of work to do if that happens.'”
This led to Schoen confirming to Barkley’s agent that the team would not match, keying a separation after six years. Upon receiving the news of the offer Barkley fetched, Schoen told Barkley’s agent the team was out. Barkley’s agent did not initially tell Schoen who made the offer, but the Giants belatedly learned the Eagles did so. Barkley confirmed months ago the Giants did not submit him a proposal to stay, indicating four teams made formal offers. It is fair to assume the Bears, along with the Texans, joined the Eagles in doing so.
Receiving Brian Daboll‘s recommendation, Schoen pivoted to Devin Singletary on a three-year, $16.5MM deal with $9.5MM guaranteed at signing. After Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti read the news of the Eagles’ deal with Barkley, Schoen told Mara, “We’re gonna be fine.” As Mara walked out of the meeting with Schoen and Rossetti upon hearing the news of Barkley’s Philly pledge, it appears he agreed.
Mara not strong-arming Schoen to keep Barkley reflects a belief in the third-year GM, and it was not made clear the Penn State alum would have passed on a Philly deal even if New York matched the terms. The Giants did not reach $26MM fully guaranteed at the July 2023 franchise tag deadline, and Schoen’s comments leading up to free agency prepared Mara for Barkley’s exit. Based on Mara’s comments during the early hours of free agency, is safe to assume the owner will be closely monitoring how Barkley fares with the Eagles. This will obviously be a key determinant in Schoen’s long-term Giants future.
It’s so obvious watching Hard Knocks that Mara is not impressed by Shoen, and is probably going to fire him if they aren’t a playoff team. Especially if Saquon does great in Philly.
I just Mara is a low-key guy. He offers his opinions to Shoen and the staff, but then he lets Shoen make the team decisions. If the Giants can approach .500 next season, I think his job is safe for another year. If they tank again, he could be a goner.
I guess time will tell
Both can be true. Mara can be hesitant, but still willing to give his GM time to put together his plan. Mara will say, “I disagree, but I will allow you to do what you think is best. However, it must lead to some results.”
Schoen doesn’t seem to be on the hotseat right now, but if the team is catastrophically bad this year, he’s not exactly safe, either. The team may not be on a playoff mandate, but they definitely need to show some promising sign of improvement this season. No matter much one person trusts another, he/she will remember what they disagreed on when it doesn’t work or goes badly, particularly in the way that the person expected (or what he/she remembers expecting). Schoen needs to have enough success in other areas to make that a minor recollection if that does occur. Mara mentioning how popular Barkley was with team probably includes how popular Barkley was with the owner, as well.
The Giants still act like they’re entitled cos they’re in the NFC East. It’s gonna take another beatdown or two by Dallas and Philly to change things in East Rutherford.
Is he Rooney’s dad or grand-dad??