2023-06-23 07:00:00
NFL Hard Knocks is almost an institution. The format, in which the preseason preparation of an NFL team is accompanied by cameras, has existed since 2001. The spectators experience all events up close – from player dismissals to training brawls.
In a total of 17 seasons, 14 different franchises have been accompanied so far, but this year of all times there are problems – because no team really wants to take part.
The selection criteria are very simple. If no franchise volunteers, the NFL may choose from among teams who have not been coached to Hard Knocks in the past ten years, whose head coach is not a freshman, and who have not made the NFL playoffs in the past two seasons.
“Hard Knocks”: Four franchises are possible
That means the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders are eligible for this year. But especially the first three mentioned do not want to.
“I know there are several teams that would like to see ‘Hard Knocks’ in their building. We’re just not one of them,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said at a news conference in early June.
Similarly, Bears President George McCaskey said in an interview with “The Athletic”: “We think there are a number of teams that have an exciting story to tell in ‘Hard Knocks’. 31 others.”
And Saints coach Dennis Allen also spoke out clearly against participating in “ProFootballTalk”: “I wouldn’t like it because I just want to focus on our football team and get better. And every distraction is just that, distraction that ultimately prevents you from achieving your goal. “
Washington Commanders: There are still problems here as well
Only the Washington Commanders have not yet directly spoken out against participating. However, the franchise is still pending the official sale of previous owner Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris.
According to a report by “CBS”, the NFL has already asked the Detroit Lions if they would like to be the face of Hard Knocks in 2023, like they did last season. That would be a novelty in the more than 20-year history of the successful series. A final decision is still pending.
Incidentally, in 2022 the selected franchise was already announced in March.
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