“Giants must ditch blind-faith evaluation approach this training camp,” a NY Post article read last month, highlighting the evident problem that the New York Giants face. Despite good insight into player preparation during training, the Giants have a history of overlooking evident issues. Like, in 2018, HC Pat Shurmur benched Ereck Flowers after praising him. Now, with Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll at the front, more such concerns seem strikingly apparent.

The former NFL Executive Michael Lombardi also shared this opinion. Just that his thoughts referenced HBO’s offseason program “Hard Knocks” and how whatever is being delivered is falling short of expectations from a general manager. In a recent episode of DraftKings, which aired on July 29, Lombardi joined the show host Femi Abebefe.

He said, “The thing that makes me really pissed off the more I think about it is what it does is it takes somebody who sits at Biggie restaurant up in North Jersey near the Meadowlands…..that makes everybody who goes to Biggie think they can be a GM because they are showing them that’s how they think… We added this player, we added that player, so for me it’s insulting to the profession of building a team.”

Clearly, the ex-executive seemed frustrated with the show, especially how it portrayed the role of GM Joe Schoen as “easy.” Last month as well on Pat McAfee’s show, Lombardi did not hesitate in expressing, “I watch this show and I see a team that is basically every player is evaluated individually, so they’re adding talent, not building a team.” A clear hint toward a rickety team. What fuels the fire more is the Giants’ 2023 season with a dismal 6-11 record, that put them out of playoff contention.

This misrepresentation fumed Lombardi because it undermined the real, and professional work involved in managing a football team. To explain his point of what should be shown, he gave an example of his personal experience. The New Jersey native pointed out that a competent GM should constantly evaluate the team, identify weaknesses, and find ways for them to improve.

For instance, when Lombardi was with the Cleveland Browns, they missed an opportunity to trade for Charles Haley, which he believes could have helped them beat their oldest divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Also, the recent Saquon Barkley move to division rivals Philadelphia Eagles has also put Joe Schoen under the limelight.  All in all, Michael Lombardi wanted “Hard Knocks” to portray the actual role of the staff, instead of only focusing on the viewers’ entertainment. Notably, this wasn’t the first time the former NFL exec has ripped the Giants for such portrayals. Remember when Schoen stated how they weren’t willing to pay $40million to Daniel Jones, just so he could hand the ball off to a $12 million running back like Saquon Barkley?

Well, as per Lombardi—“To me, the worst line of all that demonstrates that Joe is not paying attention to the NFL at all is when he said- We can’t pay somebody $40 million to hand the ball off. What the f*ck is Lamar Jackson doing? What’s he doing? He’s handing it off to Derrick Henry at $12 million.”

On the other hand, Joe Schoen has been on the receiving end of critique for reasons many would get surprised with. In fact, he even caught heat for his ‘kids-inspired picks’ before the NFL Draft.

Joe Schoen asked for his kids’ opinion during NFL draft

The Giants’ offseason on “Hard Knocks” has been a fascinating look into the heart of an NFL team. We’ve seen intense interviews with quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and tough talks with the owner John Mara. But the real star has no doubt been GM Schoen, who was seen learning the ropes.

In an episode, the show portrayed a funny moment, where Schoen, just hours before the 2024 NFL Draft, asked his kids for advice on the picks. He said, “All right, Carson, who do you want me to take?” His teenage son, Carson, excitedly and quickly replied, “Jayden Daniels. Trade up and get him, why not?”

It’s understandable why Daniels was one of the top choices of the NFL teams this year, but as he has moved to Washington, the Giants need some other names to fill the pick. When Schoen asked his son for backup options, Carson listed Drake Maye, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Malik Nabers, with a playful nod to J.J. McCarthy’s looks. Not only that! Schoen even involved his young daughter, Harper, in the conversation, and she too pointed to Maye.

Ultimately, the Giants selected LSU receiver Malik Nabers. Watching Schoen take his kids’ input in stride amidst the high-pressure draft prep was no doubt a delightful and humanizing moment. But not for everyone. Some fans, and even big names, including perhaps Michael Lombardi, felt that such portrayals show the team and the stakeholders in a negative light rather than a fun-loving one!