Eagles’ AJ Brown defends new teammate Saquon Barkley amid ‘Hard Knocks’ controversy

The latest edition of HBO’s long-running series “Hard Knocks” premiered July 2.

Much of the conversation surrounding the first episode of “HBO’s Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” focused on former Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley had a somewhat unceremonious exit from the franchise that drafted him in the first round in 2018. However, he ultimately landed with his former team’s division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, much to the dismay of the Giants faithful.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The “Hard Knocks” episode pulled back the curtain on some of the process the Giants brass went through as they considered whether to retain the services of the two-time Pro Bowler.

Knicks fans boo Saquon Barkley during the game against the 76ers in Philly, causing a backlash on social media.

In one clip, members of the Giants front office discuss the potential obstacles the team would face if they attempted to trade Barkley after placing the franchise tag on the running back.

see moment on x

Eagles star wide receiver AJ Brown took issue with the way things went down in New York and indicated that the Giants’ decision to move on from running back disappointed him.

“The Saquon video freaked me out and it wasn’t even about me. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you find your family,” Brown wrote in a since-deleted post to !@sacon.”

Knicks fans boo Saquon Barkley during the game against the 76ers in Philly, causing a backlash on social media.

The Browns agreed to a three-year contract extension worth an estimated $96 million in April. The deal made him the highest-paid player at his position at the time, until Justin Jefferson’s historic contract extension in June.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen previously shared some details about his team-building philosophy, a plan that did not include paying Barkley a huge annual salary.

“We have to upgrade the offensive line, and you’re paying that guy (quarterback Daniel Jones) $40 million. It’s not worth handing the ball back for $12 million,” Schoen said. “This is Daniel’s year. The whole plan was to give him a few years.

“Is he our guy for the next 10 years? Or do we need to find someone else?”

In May, Barkley said he “never got an offer to come back” to return to the Giants. The trailer of the show was released in June. The video shows that the running back may not have been completely transparent.

At one point in the trailer, Shawn appeared to be engaged in a phone conversation with Barkley. “Saquon, can you give me your word on this, or you won’t give us a chance,” Shawn said,

Barkley agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles in March.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Three different editions of “Hard Knocks” will air this year. While the above first edition of the show focuses on the Giants offseason, the Chicago Bears training camp and preseason will be documented in the traditional five-part format beginning in August.

Finally and for the first time, the show will follow all four teams competing in the same division – the AFC North – throughout the regular season of “Hard Knocks: In Season.”

Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter,