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.
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.
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.