NFL teams that could be in line for HBO’s 2013 “Hard Knocks” series
Jan 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis is seen through the video screen of a camera during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Gearing towards the 2013 NFL season, one thing that I’ve always looked forward to is the series by HBO that gives an inside look at an NFL team each season aptly titled “Hard Knocks.”
Though there are 32 teams, only one is given the dubious honor of having their lives invaded in all aspects as training camp opens and continues through the preseason up until final roster cuts. While the fans love seeing their favorite team displayed for the world to see, there are some that shy away from the spotlight.
The New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots come to mind as two teams that people would love to see especially with the Saints coming off one of the most controversial seasons involving the bounty scandal.
Yet these two teams with Saints head coach Sean Payton and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in charge aren’t big fans of large amounts of media intrusion. The Saints have turned down HBO several times and Belichick is famous for telling players to “ignore the noise” when it comes to outside voices such as the press getting inside their heads or the lockerroom for that matter.
One obvious choice to be featured this year would actually be the team that started the series off, the Baltimore Ravens. They were showcased in 2001 fresh off their Super Bowl win and gave people the first unprecedented look at how life goes for veterans and rookies as the season starts.
The hype that surrounded the Ravens before and after their current Super Bowl victory would likely be ratings gold. Especially now that linebacker Ray Lewis has retired and several of their key free agents stand to possibly exit such as pass rushing linebacker Paul Kruger and veteran safety Ed Reed.
On the opposite end of the Super Bowl spectrum, the losing team could win which in this case was the San Francisco 49ers. The rejuvenated franchise helmed by the emotional head coach Jim Harbaugh and newly baptized by fire elusive quarterback Colin Kaepernick would be interesting and extremely entertaining with Harbaugh’s tantrums.
The Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and Indianapolis Colts are other teams that could be easy viewing since we were witness to these teams and their three rookie quarterbacks emerge from under much scrutiny and prove that they could play. It doesn’t matter which one since seeing Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, or Andrew Luck will produce viewers.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are sporting two brand new head coaches in Andy Reid(Chiefs) and Chip Kelly(Eagles) and could be of interest as well with that angle. The Chiefs would be the best since it could show Reid trying to rebuild his career and the team along with the newly rumored trade for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith that is still allegedly in the works.
No matter who it is, we’ll be watching simply because we love football and always are hungry to find out more on the sport that can become an obsession. The announcement on who will allow us inside their facilities as well as their lives should be revealed within the coming months.