HARD HITS: OFFSEASON WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening shot: “FEBRUARY 16, 2024.” New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen discusses star running back Saquon Barkley with his senior staff.

The essence: The series opens with head coach Brian Daboll giving a final pep talk to the team after the final game of the 2023 regular season. Schoen, in his third year as general manager, and the scouting and personnel staff get right to work, discussing potential free agents and how much they made last season.

Of course, the main topic of conversation is about Barkley. The team placed the franchise tag on him last year, restricting his movement as a free agent, but Schoen thinks it’s unlikely they’ll do that again in 2024. There’s a good chance he’s gone, but Schoen and his staff believe the running back market is saturated to the point that they can get a replacement for him for less money than Barkley could get on the open market, though Schoen has his doubts he’ll be in such high demand (Barkley ended up signing with the Eagles).

But the team is looking for more than just a new RB, management is looking at free agent defensive linemen who could take some pressure off star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. Of course, the draft is another big task for management, and we see Schoen talking to other general managers (friends he made from his years with the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills) at the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

We also look at quarterback Daniel Jones’ recovery from ACL surgery, but Barkley remains the main topic. Schoen tells co-owner and CEO John Mara that they’ve invested too much in Jones to not spend the cap space they have on finding people to protect him better than he did in recent years, when he suffered three injuries in two years. Mara reluctantly agrees, though he wishes there was a way Barkley could stay.

What shows will it remind you of? This is not only the first time the Giants have been the subject of Hard knocksbut it’s the first time Hard knocks He has focused on a team’s off-season activities. He usually focuses on a team during the preseason or during the season.

Our opinion: Mara was never a fan of Hard knocksbut I finally agreed Allowing the cameras in is because it’s the team’s 100th season and it was a good way to highlight the team’s extensive history on a national scale. What’s interesting is that the only way the team would do that, though, is to have the cameras primarily around Schoen, Daboll and management, not the players.

This iteration of Hard knocks This movie will no doubt prove fascinating to those interested in seeing how the decision-makers of their favorite NFL teams make personnel decisions each year. But as far as the action goes, it’s not exactly spectacular. It’s like HBO came and put cameras all over your office; you’ll see videos of meetings, PowerPoint presentations, and people arguing in offices. There may be more swearing here, depending on what your office is like.

But for anyone wondering what discussions about free agents and potential draftees look like, this offseason edition of Hard knocks It’s definitely going to be of interest. The conversations Schoen has about Barkley are, of course, going to be the most talked about of the first few episodes of the season. While it seemed like Barkley wasn’t going to be re-signed, there still seemed to be some unease about it among members of the team’s front office.

But the edit we see shows Schoen is pretty convinced Barkley can be replaced for far less money than what the franchise tag would bring or what he would find on the open market. The footage also shows Schoen’s commitment to Jones, who was drafted by his predecessor, Dave Gettleman, is more solid than sports radio enthusiasts have speculated. For an organization as conservative as the Giants, that’s a pretty telling thing to see.

Will we see any personal moments? Probably. For example, we see Schoen driving to work eating an Uncrustables, talking about how he used to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when he was a young scouting assistant for the Panthers 20 years ago and how he asked his wife to make him the same sandwiches for the ride to his press conference when the Giants hired him as general manager in 2022. It’s fun to see those reflections, but we have a feeling they’ll be few and far between.

Sex and skin: None.

Parting shot: Schoen asks his high-level staff about Jones: “Is he going to be our guy for the next ten years or do we have to make a change and find someone else?” Given the status of his contract (he’s in his final guaranteed year at more than $40 million per year), now will be the time to find out.

Sleeping Star: Brandon Brown, the assistant general manager, appears to be a rising star in the league. He’s certainly not a man to say yes to Schoen and gives his boss a good idea of ​​the team’s needs.

Pilot’s most typical phrase: Daboll talks to Schoen about Shane Bowen, whom he considers the leading candidate to be the team’s new defensive coordinator. As he lists the stats for the defense Bowen coached for the Tennessee Titans, he swears in odd places. Apparently, the defense ranked 10th in “fucking points,” for example.

Our calling: PASS IT ON. Hard knocks: offseason with the New York Giants It’s not going to sweep away the controversial moments where players insult each other or argue with coaches. But if you’re curious about how an NFL front office works in the offseason, this show should give you enough insight to keep you interested.

Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting, and technology, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV addict. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.comFast Company and elsewhere.

The post Stream it or skip it: ‘Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants’ on HBO, where management assembles an NFL team preparing for its 100th season appeared first on Jugo Mobile.

Longtime fans of the Fox-turned-ABC drama have been begging 9-1-1 Writers explored the sexuality of Oliver Stark’s character for years, and although Buddie’s passionate fans didn’t get the dream pairing of Buck and Eddie in “Buck, Bothered and Bewildered,” the show boosted Buck’s character development with a kiss. between people of the same sex that leaves fans howling at their television screens.

The episode began with Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) giving Buck a tour of “the toys” at LAFD Air Operations. In episode 3, Buck, Hen (Aisha Hinds), Eddie (Ryan Guzman), and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) enlisted the former 118 member’s help (and a helicopter) to save Bobby and Athena from their capsized cruise ship, and then for Buck to admit the affair. It was the most fun he had had since being struck by lightning, Tommy offered to give him flying lessons. In exchange, Buck offered to buy Tommy a beer. But fair While Tommy was taking a break, Eddie stopped by to join him for a casual helicopter ride to a sold-out fight in Las Vegas. Cue this face:

Surprised to see Buck, Eddie asked if his best friend 118 was planning to jump ship and leave the station. In response, Buck uttered seven words that not only made me scream, but also fueled the fire. bisexual dollar you call to even greater heights: “No. I just keep my options fluid.” jail for him 9-1-1 writers! (Complementary.)

The rest of 9-1-1In the 100th episode, Buck went through a complex mix of emotions and showed palpable jealousy over Eddie and Tommy’s new, fast-paced friendship. Sad puppy eyes were on display as Buck took stock of the duo’s shared interests, from their time in the military and his love of “watching half-naked guys beat each other up” to Muay Thai and cars. He barely kept it together when Eddie asked him to take care of Christopher so he could be with Tommy. again. And he burned Toddie (Tommy and Eddie, sorry!) to Maddie after finding “BPUW/Tommy” (Toddie’s weekly basketball game) in a circle on Eddie’s calendar. GASP!

Fueled by a burning mix of envy, confusion, and insecurity, Buck hastily ordered a basketball, convinced Chimney to join him on the court, and spoiled Toddie’s game. After Chim realized it was Buck’s “basketball beard” (another shout!), Buck went toe-to-toe with Eddie, hurting him, and further isolated himself from the guys, but not for long. .

In the final minutes of the episode, Tommy unexpectedly visited Buck’s apartment to set the record straight, prompting Buck to say, “There’s no hard feelings, just bad behavior and it’s all on me. You did not do anything wrong. You and Eddie as friends (FRIENDS!) makes a lot of sense.” Tommy told “Evan” (help!) that he felt bad for excluding him and admitted that he was jealous of the 118 bond, so Buck reminded him that was part of 118; she even fake-mouthed a fire chief to help them save Bobby and Athena. “That’s why I called and asked for the tour,” Buck revealed. “It wasn’t because I might have left 118, Tommy. I just wanted to meet you… And then you went off with Eddie, which you don’t have to tell me how great Eddie is. I knew it from the first day I worked with him…”

After Tommy offered to teach him Muay Thai In addition to his flying lessons, Buck said, “Good. Because trying to get your attention is exhausting.” HOT! Tommy’s ears perked up, and after Buck confirmed that he was trying, all this time, to get his attention, not Eddie’s, Tommy kissed him mid-sentence in a super sexy and genuinely surprising turn. “That was better than the fake mouth static,” Buck said adorably, assuring Tommy that the display of affection was welcome. Although the former 118 member had to run across town for a shift, he adorably asked Buck for the beer he owed him on Saturday and urged him to call Eddie when he got out.

The episode ended with Buck flashing a hopeful smile that set the stage for a continued emotional journey to come, hopefully one filled with cathartic introspection; liberating growth; and intimate and important conversations with his real and found family.

Although some diehard Buddie believers may be initially disappointed by the development of Bummy (?!) vs. Buddie, it’s time to trust Buck’s journey of self-discovery, look back at all the crumbs scattered across seven seasons: Maddie’s “boy crush.” comment that the interaction of TK in the 9-1-1: Lone Star crossover, a stranger who assumes he’s Christopher’s second father, etc., and feels a sense of satisfaction knowing they’re participating in a larger, undeniably significant story.

If the exploration of Buck’s sexuality is slowly setting the stage for making Buddie canon, as some inevitably still hope, 9-1-1 It finally got to where fans sometimes doubted it would happen. Buck’s long-awaited same-sex kiss sealed a historic, fun episode filled with A+ sexual tension, flirty banter, and relatable emotions. That is cause for celebration. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what comes next.

new episodes of 9-1-1 premieres on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

The post ‘9-1-1’ closes its 100th episode with a monumental same-sex kiss appeared first on Jugo Mobile.

Longtime fans of the Fox-turned-ABC drama have been begging 9-1-1 Writers explored the sexuality of Oliver Stark’s character for years, and although Buddie’s passionate fans didn’t get the dream pairing of Buck and Eddie in “Buck, Bothered and Bewildered,” the show boosted Buck’s character development with a kiss. between people of the same sex that leaves fans howling at their television screens.

The episode began with Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) giving Buck a tour of “the toys” at LAFD Air Operations. In episode 3, Buck, Hen (Aisha Hinds), Eddie (Ryan Guzman), and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) enlisted the former 118 member’s help (and a helicopter) to save Bobby and Athena from their capsized cruise ship, and then for Buck to admit the affair. It was the most fun he had had since being struck by lightning, Tommy offered to give him flying lessons. In exchange, Buck offered to buy Tommy a beer. But fair While Tommy was taking a break, Eddie stopped by to join him for a casual helicopter ride to a sold-out fight in Las Vegas. Cue this face:

Surprised to see Buck, Eddie asked if his best friend 118 was planning to jump ship and leave the station. In response, Buck uttered seven words that not only made me scream, but also fueled the fire. bisexual dollar you call to even greater heights: “No. I just keep my options fluid.” jail for him 9-1-1 writers! (Complementary.)

The rest of 9-1-1In the 100th episode, Buck went through a complex mix of emotions and showed palpable jealousy over Eddie and Tommy’s new, fast-paced friendship. Sad puppy eyes were on display as Buck took stock of the duo’s shared interests, from their time in the military and his love of “watching half-naked guys beat each other up” to Muay Thai and cars. He barely kept it together when Eddie asked him to take care of Christopher so he could be with Tommy. again. And he burned Toddie (Tommy and Eddie, sorry!) to Maddie after finding “BPUW/Tommy” (Toddie’s weekly basketball game) in a circle on Eddie’s calendar. GASP!

Fueled by a burning mix of envy, confusion, and insecurity, Buck hastily ordered a basketball, convinced Chimney to join him on the court, and spoiled Toddie’s game. After Chim realized it was Buck’s “basketball beard” (another shout!), Buck went toe-to-toe with Eddie, hurting him, and further isolated himself from the guys, but not for long. .

In the final minutes of the episode, Tommy unexpectedly visited Buck’s apartment to set the record straight, prompting Buck to say, “There’s no hard feelings, just bad behavior and it’s all on me. You did not do anything wrong. You and Eddie as friends (FRIENDS!) makes a lot of sense.” Tommy told “Evan” (help!) that he felt bad for excluding him and admitted that he was jealous of the 118 bond, so Buck reminded him that was part of 118; she even fake-mouthed a fire chief to help them save Bobby and Athena. “That’s why I called and asked for the tour,” Buck revealed. “It wasn’t because I might have left 118, Tommy. I just wanted to meet you… And then you went off with Eddie, which you don’t have to tell me how great Eddie is. I knew it from the first day I worked with him…”

After Tommy offered to teach him Muay Thai In addition to his flying lessons, Buck said, “Good. Because trying to get your attention is exhausting.” HOT! Tommy’s ears perked up, and after Buck confirmed that he was trying, all this time, to get his attention, not Eddie’s, Tommy kissed him mid-sentence in a super sexy and genuinely surprising turn. “That was better than the fake mouth static,” Buck said adorably, assuring Tommy that the display of affection was welcome. Although the former 118 member had to run across town for a shift, he adorably asked Buck for the beer he owed him on Saturday and urged him to call Eddie when he got out.

The episode ended with Buck flashing a hopeful smile that set the stage for a continued emotional journey to come, hopefully one filled with cathartic introspection; liberating growth; and intimate and important conversations with his real and found family.

Although some diehard Buddie believers may be initially disappointed by the development of Bummy (?!) vs. Buddie, it’s time to trust Buck’s journey of self-discovery, look back at all the crumbs scattered across seven seasons: Maddie’s “boy crush.” comment that the interaction of TK in the 9-1-1: Lone Star crossover, a stranger who assumes he’s Christopher’s second father, etc., and feels a sense of satisfaction knowing they’re participating in a larger, undeniably significant story.

If the exploration of Buck’s sexuality is slowly setting the stage for making Buddie canon, as some inevitably still hope, 9-1-1 It finally got to where fans sometimes doubted it would happen. Buck’s long-awaited same-sex kiss sealed a historic, fun episode filled with A+ sexual tension, flirty banter, and relatable emotions. That is cause for celebration. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what comes next.

new episodes of 9-1-1 premieres on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

The post ‘9-1-1’ closes its 100th episode with a monumental same-sex kiss appeared first on Jugo Mobile.