Tag: Hard Knocks

Mic’d-up video showed what Lamar Jackson told Mark Andrews after his drop ended the Ravens’ season

Lamar Jackson is a true leader.

In the immediate aftermath of a tough playoff loss, you learn a lot about the mettle of NFL players. Will they blame someone else? Will they take responsibility? Will they be mature and measured about where and why their team fell short and what’s next?

After the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round — in large part thanks to Mark Andrews’ unfortunate miscues — superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson showed us exactly who he is. He blamed himself for the Ravens’ latest disappointing postseason failure and didn’t throw anyone else under the bus.

As a new video from Hard Knocks shows, a mic’d-up Jackson also specifically refused to let Andrews wallow in crunch time mistakes.

That’s because he knows while everyone on the outside will focus on a play or two, football remains a team game where everyone wins or, unfortunately, loses together:

After another promising regular season ended with a thud in mid-January, Jackson’s Ravens have a lot of work to do if they’re finally going to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl. After watching Jackson’s approach to the Ravens’ latest postseason defeat, it’s clear to me that he’s the perfect franchise player to lead them back to the mountaintop.

Besides his natural talent and poise as an electric, perennial MVP candidate, Jackson’s leadership and resolve clearly seem unimpeachable.

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Hard Knocks status update for Broncos ahead of 2025 offseason

The Broncos can’t be forced into training camp ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2025, and they are unlikely to volunteer.

Each summer, HBO and NFL Films following an NFL team through training camp for “Hard Knocks,” a popular behind-the-scenes show that gives a glimpse at life in the NFL.

Clubs can volunteer to be featured on the show, but that rarely happens. Consequently, the NFL has a “voluntold” process. Teams can’t be forced into the show if they meet one of the three circumstances:

  1. Featured on Hard Knocks in the last decade
  2. Have a first-year head coach
  3. Made the playoffs in either of the last two years

The Denver Broncos have not been on “Hard Knocks” in the past 10 years and they don’t have a new coach, but they did make the NFL playoffs in 2024. Thanks to their postseason berth last fall, the Broncos can’t be forced into “Hard Knocks” in 2025.

Denver has declined “volunteering” for the show in the past, and the Broncos seem unlikely to change that stance anytime soon.

This year, the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans can’t say no if “voluntold” to be appear on “Hard Knocks” during training camp.

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NFL may sideline ‘Hard Knocks: Offseason’ after Giants disaster

NFL Films may be forced to sideline the second season of “Hard Knocks: Offseason” after the New York Giants’ disaster showing in 2024.

To the surprise of many, New York Giants co-owner John Mara signed off on the team appearing in “Hard Knocks: Offseason” last year in celebration of their 100th season.

In hindsight, Mara might like to have that decision back.

Although the Hard Knocks variant was well-received by fans and analysts, it did little to make the Giants appear like a functioning, well-run franchise.

The five-episode docuseries instead highlighted their failed Saquon Barkley negotiations and inability to facilitate a draft day trade that would have rerouted the course of the organization. It also appeared to depict a rudderless team without an identity or purpose with multiple executives wanting different things.

As the season played out, the Giants looked even worse in retrospect. And for that reason, the other 31 NFL teams are wary about appearing on a second season of “Hard Knocks: Offseason.”

“There’s definitely a chance. We hope it’s back. We’re talking to a bunch of teams about it. But we’ll see what happens. I mean, we need a willing participant on that one. We’re not going to force someone to do that show,” NFL Films vice president Keith Cossrow said on The Pat McAfee Show.

“That show is about a process. And I think it’s really cool to have been able to make a show about, ‘Hey we’re going to start in January and we’re going to have an endpoint after the draft. And you’re going to see how a group of people, faced with really difficult decisions, goes about making those decisions.'”

The show only works if an organization is confident in its process and willing to share that with the world. The Giants were unjustly confident and paid the price for it. Sure, millions watched but only in the sense that they couldn’t turn away from a car wreck.

The flagship Hard Knocks will return in 2025 for its 25th season but the offseason version remains up in the air thanks to the Giants.

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Two-time MVP raves about Browns DE Myles Garrett

Another peer at the top of his game has high praise for Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has consistently earned increasing praise from his peers, this time it’s from Baltimore Ravens MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson.

In the latest episode of “Hard Knocks”, HBO followed Jackson and asked for his thoughts on the Browns’ All-Pro. Jackson shared his answer when asked which defensive end gave him the most trouble in their matchups:

“Myles Garrett. He looks like he put more weight on this year.” Jackson then continued to discuss the moves he sees against the Browns, mimicking Myles Garrett’s jump-step move in the backfield. He went on to say that Garrett is “different” and extremely athletic.

This season, Garrett was unable to sack Lamar Jackson amid the Browns’ struggles in 2024. This comes as no surprise given how well the Ravens quarterback has played this season. Hopefully, at this time next year, Myles Garrett will be reflecting on a more successful season.

Panthers could be forced to participate in upcoming season of HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’

The Panthers are one of four NFL teams that can be forced into filming for this summer’s edition of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

The Carolina Panthers might have to get ready for their close-up.

As pointed out by @NerdingonNFL over at Twitter/X on Tuesday, the Panthers are one of four teams that can be forced into participating in the upcoming season of HBO’s Hard Knocks. The Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans are the other three possible subjects.

From its debut all the way back in 2001, Hard Knocks goes behind the scenes to document the tireless offseason preparation of NFL teams. Cameras follow executives, coaches and players during the summer—usually for a portion of training camp and through the preseason—in capturing the drama and excitement that comes with the gig.

So, what makes the Panthers eligible?

Well, they meet each of the league’s three thresholds . . .

  1. A team can be forced to accommodate filming if they have not been the subject of the program in the last 10 years. The Panthers have never been the subject of the program.
  2. A team can be forced to film if they do not have a first-year head coach. Barring an unforeseen development, Dave Canales will be entering his second year as head coach.
  3. A team can be forced to film if they did not reach the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons. The Panthers have not reached the playoffs since 2017.

An announcement for this summer’s subject is likely to come this spring.

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‘Hard Knocks’ shows Bengals watching Broncos knock them out of playoff contention

Hard Knocks cameras captured Bengals players watching the Broncos eliminate them from playoff contention.

In addition to a new offseason version of the show and the usual training camp version, HBO also debuted an in-season version of “Hard Knocks” in 2024.

The NFL Films production followed the AFC North during the 2024 NFL season, providing updates of the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

In the latest episode, “Hard Knocks” showed Bengals players and coach Zac Taylor reacting to the Denver Broncos eliminating Cincinnati from playoff contention.

In order to reach the postseason, the Bengals needed the Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins to lose to the New York Jets. Here’s how Cincy reacted to Sunday’s results:

The Jets helped the Bengals out on Sunday with a 32-20 win over the Dolphins, but the Chiefs rested starters against the Broncos. Denver went on to win 38-0, eliminating Cincy from playoff contention.

The Bengals will undoubtedly remember this moment when they travel to face the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in 2025. Cincinnati is one of nine teams scheduled to play in Denver next season.

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Titans could be forced to appear on ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2025

The Tennessee Titans could be forced to appear on ‘Hard Knocks,’ the NFLs docuseries that follows an NFL team through a part of it season.

Way back in 2001, a first-of-its-kind docuseries began in the NFL called ‘Hard Knocks.’ A camera crew and production staff would follow an NFL team through training camp, documenting that team’s situational circumstances and giving fans an inside look into their favorite teams. The Tennessee Titans have never appeared in this docuseries, but in 2025, they are one of four teams that could be forced to take part.

There are three circumstances a team is exempt from being forced to take part in the ‘Hard Knocks’ series: 1. They’ve appeared on ‘Hard Knocks’ in the last eight years; 2. They have a first-year head coach; 3. They reached the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons.

Considering the Titans lack none of those factors, the NFL could force them to participate in August 2025. Even if they aren’t selected this year, it could happen next year.

In 2021, the NFL expanded its ‘Hard Knocks’ episodes from following a team through training camp to following a second team through the regular season. In 2024, the New York Giants became the first team to be followed through the offseason. So, there are three opportunities where the Titans could be called upon for this series.

Up until now, the Titans either didn’t receive an offer for the show or declined the invitation. Stay tuned to see if they are forced into the show or not.

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Russell Wilson forever the cheerleader, even after 4th straight loss

Russell Wilson tries to hype of Cameron Heyward after loss to the Bengals.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers struggles over the course of the last month, there seems to be nothing to diminish the positivity of quarterback Russell Wilson. On the latest episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks, Wilson can be seen meeting Cameron Heyward at midfield after the Steelers loss to the Cincinnati Bengals to try and hype him up for the playoffs.

“Hey, let’s go win the last four,” Wilson said. “All right? Look at me. Let’s go. We can do it. You know what I’m saying? Don’t doubt now. You feel me? Let’s go win the next four.”

Given that the Steelers defense was able to hold the Bengals to just 19 points while the Steelers offense could only must 17, I doubt Heyward was in the mood for any cheerleading from Wilson.

The Steelers offense fell into a funk a month ago and there appears to be no end in sight. The defense is doing its best to keep teams honest but against the Baltimore Ravens this weekend, Wilson and the offense have to do a better job if they want to win one, much less four.

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Mic’d up Myles Garrett had the classiest response to Ravens lineman’s humble jersey request

So classy.

Asking for a star NFL player’s jersey — in the middle of a game no less — must be tough while in the trenches, especially when it’s an offensive lineman asking for the threads of a stud pass rusher.

But Baltimore Ravens lineman Roger Rosengarten wasn’t rebuffed by Myles Garrett when the former asked the latter, as Hard Knocks captured with its mics and cameras.

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Rosengarten said, “I know I’m a nobody, but if I could get that jersey after?”

Garrett’s reply was all class: “Hey, you’re in this league, y’all looking great, you ain’t never a nobody.”

Jersey granted. What a great exchange!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEjFFA4pFlH/?hl=en

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Saquon Barkley’s new ad trolls Giants owner John Mara over Hard Knocks moment

John Mara might lose more sleep after this.

All of John Mara’s worst fears about losing Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles have come true this season, as the former Giants running back is having the year of his life, rushing for over 2,000 yards.

The Giants owner went viral over the summer after he was caught saying “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia” during an episode of Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.

Sure enough, Barkley went to Philadelphia, and it’s gone even better than they could have hoped for. Now, the running back is trolling Mara in his new ad for Unisom — a product to help people sleep better.

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“I heard some of you were having trouble sleeping, so I wrote you a lullaby,” he said in one of several ads posted to his Instagram story. “Rockabye baby, awake in your bed. As the thought of 2,000 swirls in your head. It sure is tough to lose sleep over football. Not for me, though. Good night to you all.”

He didn’t mention Mara by name, but he didn’t need to. The message was loud and clear.