The Giants had enough of “Hard Knocks” last year to never, ever want to do it again.
But here they are, back on it.
Coming in December is ‘Hard Knocks: In Season With the NFC East” on HBO Max.
The Giants are not the marquee attraction, of course, with the Super Bowl champion Eagles, rapidly improving Commanders and always-in-demand Cowboys the featured teams, along with the Giants.
The Giants took a beating around the league during and after their appearance on the first offseason version of “Hard Knocks,” focusing on the front office decisions in free agency and the build-up to the NFL Draft.
Executives on other NFL teams wondered why the Giants pulled down the curtain so widely during the failed contract negotiations with Saquon Barkley and his subsequent signing with the rival Eagles.
It made for riveting viewing but it so scared off the rest of the league that there is no offseason version of the show this year.
In the official promo for the in-season show, Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers are listed as the featured Giants players.
It will be Barkley and Jalen Hurts from the Eagles, Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin from the Commanders and Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb from the Cowboys.
Other storylines will develop during the course of the season.
This will be the second “Hard Knocks” edition of the division format.
Last year, the AFC North was featured, meaning two new Giants quarterbacks, Wilson (Steelers) and Jameis Winston (Browns) are familiar with how the show works.
Unlike the offseason version, the in-season “Hard Knocks” is focused on players and coaches.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll was largely able to avoid much screen time in the offseason show but will not be able to do so this time around.
It will come as no surprise if rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart fills a prominent role on the in-season show for the Giants, as by the time it airs in December, it will be interesting to see if Wilson still has command of the starting job.
“Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills” debuts Aug. 5 on HBO.
