How the Giants' Joe Schoen-Saquon Barkley contract talks ended shown on 'Hard Knocks' episode 3

The Saquon Barkley free agency saga finally reaches its conclusion on Episode 3 of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants,” which premiered on HBO and Max on Tuesday night.

After much angst and rubbing of foreheads by general manager Joe Schoen and team president John Mara, the star running back leaves for the Eagles as a free agent.

The most quotable moment comes when Mara is making one of several visits to Schoen’s office and puts the stakes into context for the GM.

“I’m going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” Mara says, then adds, “He’s the most popular player we have, by far.”

That scene comes after we hear Schoen on the phone with Mara warning him of what might be coming.

Schoen had spoken to Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry, and sought to reiterate the plan that Barkley would shop himself, then come back to the Giants and give them a chance to match any deal.

“I told the agent, I said if we match that deal, he’s going to be a Giant,” Schoen tells Mara. “And he hemmed and hawed, like, ‘I’m not saying that. We’ve got a lot of work to do if that happens.’”

Schoen had asked what it would take to land Barkley and was told a three-year contract with an average salary of $12.5 million and $25 million guaranteed.

The Eagles gave him three years for $37.75 million, an average of $12.6 million, with $26 million guaranteed.

When Berry conveys the numbers to Schoen, the GM says, “OK, we’re not going to go there. We’re out.”

Then Schoen tries to find out which team landed Barkley. “Is it in the division?” he asks. “I’m trying to prepare myself mentally for what’s going to happen.”

It was in the division, a worst-case scenario. When Schoen breaks it all down for Mara, he tries to reassure him, saying, “We’re going to be fine.”

Says Mara: “I think we will be, too.”

Beyond Barkley, the episode focuses on other aspects of free agency, notably the trade negotiations with the Panthers to land star defensive lineman Brian Burns.

The Giants are shown outbidding the Jets for guard Jon Runyan Jr., then landing tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to bolster their offensive line.

Safety Xavier McKinney leaves for a huge deal with the Packers and Tyrod Taylor – coach Brian Daboll’s top choice to back up Daniel Jones – leaves for the Jets.

Former Jet Sam Darnold was on the Giants’ list of potential alternatives to Taylor, but they land their No. 2 choice behind Taylor in Drew Lock.

Schoen says more than once on the show that free agency is more stressful than the draft in the sense that one has no control over what the other team will do.

The Burns talks involve Panthers GM Dan Morgan, a close personal and family friend of Schoen, yet the two end up haggling over a seventh-round draft pick.

The Burns deal – plus signing him to a long-term deal – leads to relief and celebration among Giants personnel officials, along with congratulations for Schoen from everyone from Daboll to Schoen’s young daughter, Harper.

“You did a good job, buddy,” Daboll texts. “I’m proud of you.”

Writes Harper, “Hey, Daddy, good job at work today.”

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.