We’re within the midst of the sluggish information cycle of the NFL offseason, however the newest season of Arduous Knocks has given us lots to speak about.
New York Giants basic supervisor Joe Schoen may need revitalized the long-running actuality present with the entire entry he gave the HBO cameras through the offseason. He’s undoubtedly the star of this new model of Arduous Knocks, and it was shocking to see how open he was in entrance of the cameras. However Schoen’s phrases created bulletin board materials for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Schoen fired up NFL gamers, whereas a viral image of Dak Prescott put a scare into Dallas Cowboys followers earlier than the Fourth of July festivities final week. And talking of viral photographs, Greg Olsen had an excellent marriage ceremony picture that made many snort and smile.
Let’s study Prescott’s and Olsen’s viral photographs for this week’s Reality or Fiction.
Cowboys ought to panic about Dak Prescott’s foot harm
Manzano’s view: Fiction
Many Cowboys followers had been fearful a couple of image posted on social media final week displaying Prescott with a strolling boot on his proper foot whereas on a visit to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.
Nevertheless it’s means too early to press the panic button, particularly after experiences emerged of Prescott being on observe to take part within the group’s first coaching camp observe on July 25. ESPN reported that Prescott is not sporting the strolling boot and known as the foot sprain a “minor” harm.
It’s not supreme for the star quarterback to have a foot sprain weeks earlier than coaching camp, however even when Prescott is compelled to overlook a couple of summer time practices— which was most likely at all times going to be the case as a veteran—he doesn’t want as many reps after greedy Mike McCarthy’s “Texas Coast” offense final season. That’s one of many positives of Jerry Jones’s unpopular resolution for retaining McCarthy.
The QB-coach duo have loads of chemistry, nevertheless it is perhaps a make-or-break season as each head into contract years, with loads of stress to ship a prolonged postseason run.
Giants’ offensive line held again Daniel Jones final season
Manzano’s view: Fiction
Schoen strongly defended quarterback Daniel Jones throughout a memorable scene from the primary episode of the offseason version of Arduous Knocks. Schoen stated the accidents on the offensive line final season hindered Jones’s performances, including that not even Patrick Mahomes might win behind the depleted offensive line.
There’s an argument that Mahomes most likely wouldn’t win many video games had he began for the Giants final yr, however he would have undoubtedly given them a greater likelihood to win. Jones has been an inconsistent quarterback since coming into the league as a first-round decide in 2019. And, sure, Jones’s accidents the previous few seasons have additionally performed a job in why he hasn’t discovered consistency within the NFL. However Schoen placing the blame on poor offensive line safety for Jones’s rocky ’23 performances appeared like an excuse.
Outdoors of a shocking 2022 season, the Giants and Jones have finished loads of shedding, and that’s even with a stud left sort out in Andrew Thomas. It’s nice that Schoen defended Jones, whom the Giants re-signed for 4 years, $160 million after his profession ’22 season. However there’s sufficient movie on Jones to know that his inconsistent performances lengthen additional than not having a wholesome offensive line. It additionally hasn’t helped that the Giants have struggled to search out dependable cross catchers for Jones. However maybe having rookie wideout Malik Nabers, an improved offensive line and a wholesome season from Jones might show why Schoen strongly backs his inconsistent quarterback.
Saquon Barkley will surpass 1,200 dashing yards in 2024
Manzano’s view: Reality
Sticking with extra content material from the Giants’ Arduous Knocks season, Schoen didn’t defend former Giants working again Saquon Barkley the identical means he did Jones. It was clear that the Giants had been prepared to maneuver on, because the episode displayed how the group contemplated its possibility for changing the versatile working again.
Schoen instructed his entrance workplace executives and coaches that they’ll discover extra worth in free company and thru the draft, and even talked about to Frank Gore that working backs diminish after 27. Welp, Barkley turned 27 in February.
That didn’t sit proper with many NFL gamers, together with Barkley’s new Eagles teammate, A.J. Brown, who had this to say: “The Saquon video fired me up and it wasn’t even about me. I’m going to do every part in my energy to be sure to get yours fam!”
Clearly, Brown needs to make the Giants remorse giving up on Barkley. Maybe a season with greater than 1,200 dashing yards will try this. Barkley has loads of put on and tear on his physique, however he nonetheless managed 962 dashing yards in 14 video games behind that poor Giants’ offensive line.
Barkley gained’t get to run behind just lately retired middle Jason Kelce, however the Eagles nonetheless have a robust offensive line on an offense led by star quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles have the best environment to make the Giants remorse letting Barkley stroll in free company.
Greg Olsen must be invited to extra weddings
Manzano’s view: Reality
Not solely is Greg Olsen a terrific TV analyst, however he’s additionally apparently nice at being the lifetime of a celebration. The previous Panthers’ tight finish—he was additionally nice at that, too—went viral for an image of him having a blast at Christian McCaffrey’s and Olivia Culpo’s marriage ceremony the place Olsen may need had a couple of fancy drinks from the bar menu.
Sports activities Illustrated author Jimmy Traina wrote on social media, “Each single one that ever attends a marriage ought to appear like Greg Olsen on the finish of it.” He’s completely right. And I might undoubtedly watch a actuality present of Olsen crashing weddings through the NFL offseason.