Hard Knocks: Everyone Gets a Turn

[soxfan121]

NFL Owners passed a rule today assuring the future of HBO's Hard Knocks series, stating that if a team doesn't volunteer it will compel a team to appear before the cameras during training camp. 
 

The league still will ask for volunteers. If one is not forthcoming, a team will be appointed. All organizations will be eligible with the exception of those that have a first-year head coach; teams that have made the playoffs in at least one of the last two seasons; and teams that have participated in the previous 10 seasons. 
 

 
Before we Patriots fans get too excited by the prospect of just how grumpy Bill Belichick would be about having his training camp taped (without editorial control and without his direction)...read the rule again. Teams that make the playoffs can refuse. And when the Patriots don't make the playoffs twice in a row, it will likely be when Bill has decided to take his boat on a permanent fishing trip. 
 
FWIW, under these conditions there were four teams eligible to be (forcibly) selected for HK this (2013) season: Raiders, Rams, Bucs and Titans. Knowing what we know now, the 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp on HBO's Hard Knocks would have been the greatest thing ever. 
 
 

 

[southshoresoxfan]

God this almost makes me wish we missed a playoff.  This would be porn. 

 

[Icculus]

It'd take missing two in a row. To echo 121 I hope it's not an issue with B&B together.
 
Without knowing too much behind the scenes stuff it seems to me like this would be far less interesting with a team that's forced into it. They have to have some discretion over where the cameras go or what shots can be released for competitive reasons right? Who would make the final decision on if showing something would be detrimental to the team?

 

[soxfan121]

It'd take missing two in a row. To echo 121 I hope it's not an issue with B&B together.
 
Without knowing too much behind the scenes stuff it seems to me like this would be far less interesting with a team that's forced into it. They have to have some discretion over where the cameras go or what shots can be released for competitive reasons right? Who would make the final decision on if showing something would be detrimental to the team?

 
They never show anything "detrimental" to the team; they don't show a play diagrammed on the white board, then practice clips of that play (for example). 
 
I would think that a team "forced into it" would have less interview segments with the head coach (or, in the case of Belichick, no interview segments with any coaches, ever) and some James Harrison moments (he was not pleased with the cameras this season) but HBO would do it usual excellent job of showcasing some rookies, a veteran recovering from injury and then a couple bigger names. I think Tom Brady would do his duty, sit down a few times for a few minutes, give HBO's cameras some stuff and handle it professionally. 
 
I think my preferred targets for the team being forced into it next season would be Philadelphia (Chip Kelly wouldn't like it, but f-him, they ain't making the playoffs and he'll be in his second year) and then the Raiders (because it's the Raiders). 

 

[86spike]

They never show anything "detrimental" to the team; they don't show a play diagrammed on the white board, then practice clips of that play (for example). 
 
I would think that a team "forced into it" would have less interview segments with the head coach (or, in the case of Belichick, no interview segments with any coaches, ever) and some James Harrison moments (he was not pleased with the cameras this season) but HBO would do it usual excellent job of showcasing some rookies, a veteran recovering from injury and then a couple bigger names. I think Tom Brady would do his duty, sit down a few times for a few minutes, give HBO's cameras some stuff and handle it professionally. 
 
I think my preferred targets for the team being forced into it next season would be Philadelphia (Chip Kelly wouldn't like it, but f-him, they ain't making the playoffs and he'll be in his second year) and then the Raiders (because it's the Raiders).

Quick correction: HBO is only the broadcaster for this. NFL Films shoots, edits and produces the show in its entirety.

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Um, also didn't Belichick basically have his entire 09 season taped for A Football Life?  I mean, he's shown in the past he's cool with this sort of thing.

 

[Super Nomario]

Um, also didn't Belichick basically have his entire 09 season taped for A Football Life?  I mean, he's shown in the past he's cool with this sort of thing.

That didn't air until 2011, though. I think he's much more amenable to something like that than something that airs soon after it happens.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Um, also didn't Belichick basically have his entire 09 season taped for A Football Life?  I mean, he's shown in the past he's cool with this sort of thing.

 
I'm with Laddie here. One thing BB cares a lot about is history of the game, which is the reason why he gave pretty much an open access to the `09 season. 
 
I think BB may be more amenable to it than one would suspect. At least I hope so - it would be fascinating, and not just for BB either. Players like Kelly, Talib, and Gronk (!) would be just awesome. 
 
P.S. Then again, the best parts of HK involve the fringe players & rookies trying to make the team so I'd watch pretty much any team be on the series.

 

[Dan Murfman]

Steelers and Giants might be available for next year.

 

[Reverend]

So only teams with head coaches with at least a year of experience but who did not make the playoffs can be compelled? So basically, only shit-show or near shit-show organizations?
 
That's awesome. "Make the playoffs or we will broadcast your shame to the world!"

 

[Youkilis vs Wild]

So only teams with head coaches with at least a year of experience but who did not make the playoffs can be compelled? So basically, only shit-show or near shit-show organizations?
 
That's awesome. "Make the playoffs or we will broadcast your shame to the world!"

 
Seriously. As if Belichick needed more incentive to make the playoffs. This rule ensures they go 11-0 the rest of the year, right?

 

[moly99]

My first reaction is that this disqualifies too many teams. Teams that miss the playoffs two years in a row frequently change head coaches, and the teams that continually suck are quickly going to be disqualified by the 10 year rule. There are only going to be a few eligible teams each year.
 
But on second thought that's a good thing. There's going to be less room for arguments about favoritism in the selection of teams, and teams can't blame anyone but themselves if they get forced to do it.
 
There's still a part of me that wishes they signed a 32 year contract to do each team, though.

 

[wutang112878]

Um, also didn't Belichick basically have his entire 09 season taped for A Football Life?  I mean, he's shown in the past he's cool with this sort of thing.

 

 
I'm with Laddie here. One thing BB cares a lot about is history of the game, which is the reason why he gave pretty much an open access to the `09 season. 
 
I think BB may be more amenable to it than one would suspect. At least I hope so - it would be fascinating, and not just for BB either. Players like Kelly, Talib, and Gronk (!) would be just awesome. 
 
 

 
I think the NFLN stuff is very different because of Sabol's involvement at the time   I am fairly confident that there isnt anyone at HBO that Bill would trust like that
 

Belichick had already impressed Sabol once by answering a questionnaire that asked what his favorite movie was by saying, "Anything by NFL Films," according to the Boston Globe.
 
But Sabol thought he had to give Belichick the works to get his exclusive in 2009. So, as Belichick told it, Sabol pulled together a presentation, talking about taping legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi and what the project would entail.
 
"He's going on and on and on," Belichick told the Boston Globe, "and I'm sitting there thinking to myself, 'Well, I'm going to do this.' "
 
Belichick let Sabol say his piece. After about 10 minutes of imploring Belichick to trust him, Sabol finally asked him if he would do the project. Belichick, his mind already made up, agreed.
 
"I'm sure he felt like it was his sales pitch that did it, but I was sold before he even tried to make the sale," Belichick said.

 
 

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

So only teams with head coaches with at least a year of experience but who did not make the playoffs can be compelled? So basically, only shit-show or near shit-show organizations?
 
That's awesome. "Make the playoffs or we will broadcast your shame to the world!"

 
I think the thought process is that playoff teams generally have a better crowd following. Hardknock teams, I would wager, end up getting a decent following (at least for the first handful of weeks after the show airs) as well.
 
In other words, anything the NFL does has to do with money. I would suspect this is no different.

 

[SirPsychoSquints]

My first reaction is that this disqualifies too many teams. Teams that miss the playoffs two years in a row frequently change head coaches, and the teams that continually suck are quickly going to be disqualified by the 10 year rule. There are only going to be a few eligible teams each year.
 
But on second thought that's a good thing. There's going to be less room for arguments about favoritism in the selection of teams, and teams can't blame anyone but themselves if they get forced to do it.
 
There's still a part of me that wishes they signed a 32 year contract to do each team, though.

 
By my count, since the year 2000, you'd have an average of 9.4 teams eligible per year, with a max of 12 and a minimum of 7.  This is manually tabulated, and would be reduced by any teams that had done Hard Knocks in the past 10 years.
 
The Bills & Texans would each have been eligible 8 times - the Colts never (the Patriots, Ravens, Jets & Eagles once each).

 

[DJnVa]

 
 
I think the NFLN stuff is very different because of Sabol's involvement at the time   I am fairly confident that there isnt anyone at HBO that Bill would trust like that
 

 
HBO only broadcasts it. NFL Films does all the production.

 

[Reverend]

HBO only broadcasts it. NFL Films does all the production.

alternately, you could have just posted: "Read the thread."

 

[Morning Woodhead]

I was bummed out that 24/7 is over for the year, and it got me thinking about hard knocks next year.  Based on the new rules, unless someone volunteers for it, it's going to be one of the following teams:
 
AFC - Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, Jaguars, Raiders
NFC - Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Rams
 
I could see a team like Jax, STL or AZ run with it to try and get some excitement going.  Carry on.....

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I'd guess HBO/NFL would twist a few arms to get the Bears.

 

[lambeau]

Dolphins!!

(Jets 2012?)

 

[DJnVa]

I was bummed out that 24/7 is over for the year, and it got me thinking about hard knocks next year.  Based on the new rules, unless someone volunteers for it, it's going to be one of the following teams:
 
AFC - Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, Jaguars, Raiders
NFC - Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Rams
 
I could see a team like Jax, STL or AZ run with it to try and get some excitement going.  Carry on.....

 
I thought teams that had appeared in the last 10 years were exempt?
 
Fins were on in 2012, Cowboys in 2008, Jets in 2010...

 

[Youkilis vs Wild]

Raiders would be fun, but Chicago probably has the most marketability.