AJ Brown's Message to Saquon Barkley After Viral 'Hard Knocks' Clip

It appears Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown watched “Hard Knocks,” which seems to have given him a little more motivation for the 2024 season.

Brown reached out to X in a now-deleted message to show his support for his new teammate, Saquon Barkley, after intimate details of the running back’s negotiations with his former Giants team were revealed during the recent premiere of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

“Saquon’s video got me fired up and it wasn’t even about me,” Brown wrote in the deleted post, as captured by @brgridiron on X. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you get yours, family!””

Giants general manager Joe Schoen was seen repeatedly debating what to do with Barkley as he entered free agency.

“What are we really going to get if it’s not reduced to $7 million? I don’t want to offer that because I don’t want to give the impression that we’ve disrespected him,” Schoen said at a news conference. Conversation with Giants Owner John Mara “There’s 31 teams and it only takes one to be open to doing something. If that doesn’t happen, then, hey, we’ll let you become a free agent. Figure out your market, come back and tell us if we can match it. If we can, we’ll have those discussions.”

Schoen didn’t appear to be getting into a bidding war to retain Barkley, who landed a three-year, $37.5 million contract ($12.5 million average) with $26 million guaranteed by the Eagles.

Incentives included in the contract could push Barkley’s potential earnings to $46 million.

In discussing team building further with his inner circle, Schoen said a big reason they wouldn’t spend as much on Barkley was quarterback Daniel Jones’ contract.

“We need to improve the offensive line, and you’re paying the guy $40 million — that’s not to hand the ball to a $12 million back,” Schoen told player personnel director Tim McDonnell, who questioned the team’s offensive identity without Barkley.

Brown and the Eagles are coming off a disappointing season, where they started 10-1 before limping to the finish line and a first-round playoff exit.

They’re hoping Barkley is the missing piece to the team and can give them the locker room presence that seems necessary to hold the team together.

Brown and Barkley were seen courtside during a playoff game between the 76ers and Knicks in May, with some Knicks fans calling him a traitor.

Barkley said he never received an offer to return to New York.