Report: Browns Hard Knocks Favorites
The Cleveland Browns have not had the greatest of off-seasons from a media perspective. The Kyle Shanahan situation, Johnny Manziel, Text-gate and a very quiet start to Free Agency all created a lot of negative media attention. It seems that media attention may continue into Training Camp as former Browns writer Vic Carucci is reporting that the team is the front runner for Hard Knocks:
Hearing the #Browns are front-runners for next featured team on HBO Hard Knocks series.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) March 23, 2015
Browns Hard Knocks would seem to be interesting to many people. Manziel’s return to the football field following rehab would be a big story alone. Pressure felt by GM Ray Farmer and HC Mike Pettine from the ever present Jimmy Haslam would get a ton of attention. The Browns are also a good, young team with a chance to prove something. With a physical team, the tone of Hard Knocks would be hard hitting.
It would be shocking if Farmer and Pettine would embrace the HBO series, although they both have experience from past teams, but Haslam could be intrigued and the league could force the Browns to take on the role. Pro Football Talk noted the conditions under which a team could opt out:
"The Browns fall within the scope of the teams that can be forced in 2015 to do Hard Knocks. Only teams with new head coaches, teams that have appeared in the playoffs the past two years, and teams that have appeared on the series in the past decade can’t (fixed) be compelled to open their training camp to the NFL Films cameras and microphones."
Last year the Browns couldn’t be forced to with Pettine in his first season. They haven’t made the playoffs in recent memory and have never appeared on the show. Biggest concern with the Browns being put on the show is the continuation of narrative. Cameras will be rolling a ton and they will have to splice together bits and look for storylines to create attention in the show. The Browns historically negative narrative would likely be drummed up by the producers.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
There are other teams that HBO and the NFL may want more than the Browns. The Buffalo Bills with Rex Ryan could get out of it with Rex just getting into town but all of their new players intrigue. Plus new ownership may want to show off the team. The Philadelphia Eagles have made a ton of additions to their team and could be forced by the NFL as well.
Carucci is pretty plugged in to the workings of the NFL. If the Browns do get put on Hard Knocks we will have coverage for you but do not expect us to buy in to the drama seen on screen. We will constantly urge you to not buy in either.
What do you think of the possibility of Browns Hard Knocks?