Which of the three ‘Hard Knocks’ candidates would be the best choice?
It seems like our list of “Hard Knocks” candidates is down to three, and no, the Cleveland Browns aren’t on the list.
The Browns did not want to be on the HBO reality show that follows a team through training camp, because quarterback Johnny Manziel is returning from a stint in rehab and he doesn’t need that kind of spotlight on him. That’s fair. But ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi seemed to come up with our list of three candidates: Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.
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Grossi pointed out that those three teams were the willing participants, so that apparently isn’t the official list of finalists (though, the Houston Chronicle confirmed that the Texans are one of three finalists). So perhaps we could get a surprise pick from one of the other forced candidates, based on the NFL’s criteria: Cleveland, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings. Teams are exempt if they have a first-year head coach, have made the playoffs in either of the past two seasons or have appeared on the show in the previous 10 years. But it seems unlikely any of the teams that aren’t exempt but haven’t volunteered would be picked because the producers want to feature a team that actually wants to be on the show.
So let’s rank the three teams that appear to be the real candidates:
3. Houston Texans
It’s a strong field if the Texans are third.
We’d get to see Arian Foster’s wit, J.J. Watt’s mega personality (“Sno-Caps, perhaps?”) and the seemingly always irritated ways of coach Bill O’Brien. There would also be a quarterback controversy, Jadeveon Clowney trying to return from knee surgery, DeAndre Hopkins announcing himself to a bigger audience … a lot to like here.
But as a whole, there’s just a little more to like with the other two.
2. Buffalo Bills
I mean, it’s Rex Ryan. Come on, that’s enough. Not like anyone wasn’t entertained when the Jets were on “Hard Knocks.”
There’s also a quarterback controversy here, LeSean McCoy with a new team, future star Sammy Watkins and a peek inside pass rusher Mario Williams’ world. And, again, Rex. It would not be bad. Yet …
1. Washington Redskins
We all want a peek behind this curtain, right?
Forget DeSean Jackson, the much-discussed Jay Gruden-Robert Griffin III relationship and Griffin himself. Those are all interesting story lines. But a chance for expanded access to Daniel Snyder’s kingdom? This is widely considered the most dysfunctional NFL team, even by many of its own fans. A lot of that comes from Snyder, the owner who seems to have the thinnest skin in the entire league. How would an owner who has spent so much time and effort trying to manipulate the media in Washington (another less complicated way to get positive media coverage: actually winning games) react to NFL Films having so much access?
What would we get to see? Would we get an honest look at Snyder? Even if it turns into the Griffin Show, that’s still not too bad.
Sign us up for Washington on HBO this summer.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
