No Hard Knocks For Bucs
May 16th, 2011
Moments ago, the Bucs announced on their official Facebook page that the team has declined the NFL’s overtures to have training camp featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
Some of you may have heard that we were approached by the league about the possibility of being this year’s team on “Hard Knocks.” After discussing the idea and carefully considering the opportunity, we have respectfully declined. It was certainly an honor to be considered, and we think it is a good indication of the excitement and national interest that is forming around our team. This year, however, we believe it is in the best interests of the team to keep the focus on the field and what we hope to accomplish in 2011. As we told the league, we would be honored to be considered again in the future; it is always an entertaining and informative show and we look forward to watching whomever takes our spot this year.
Joe agrees with this line of thinking. The Bucs are still a very young team and really don’t need the distractions of having camera crews in their faces every waking moment.
When the team begins to establish itself, and more Bucs personalities begin to emerge, it will make for a better series.
Joe also has a hunch the lockout has in some way played a part in this decision.
Hattip reader Jason Klafter.
May 16th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
The Glazers declined because they aren’t comfortable in the spotlight in front of cameras and they would have been exposed big time.
May 16th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
; )
May 16th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I think we should wait till next year after we win the SB 😉
good move though, half our players will probably be in prison by the time the lockout ends anyway
May 16th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Damn it. I wanted [Be nice! — Joe] to be exposed as the fool he really is… in front of a National audience.
May 16th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Smart move. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by letting cameras into private work and conversation.
May 16th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
chance of a lifetime for a bucs fan gone forever. truly sad. we will never get approached to be on that show again.
i understand why they did it, but wished they would do it so i could see my team up close and personal.
May 16th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS$!
1 focus…FOOTBALL!
Leave crap like this to the TO types.
May 16th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Chance of a lifetime? Gone forever? You’re joking, right? Enough with the hyperbole. This was a very smart decision by the Bucs.
May 16th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Wisdom!
May 16th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
carrots over french fries. Not that fun short term, but better decision in the long term
May 16th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
FLBoy..
I assume you have never watched the show because if you did you would realize why I said that. Its a great show that will give fans a glimpse into the behind the scenes stuff one would never see without it.
I commend everyone who think its a great idea not to do this to keep the focus on football, I totally understand that. But as a fan it was disappointing.
And yes, this chance is gone forever. You think HBO is going to keep asking us like this? There are much more nationally interesting teams with drama to put on there, this was a bone they were throwing us.
May 16th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
AAARRRRGGGGGHHHhH! I am so pissed. I was dying for one hour of comedy every week, I also believe that you learn a lot about players watching this show.
For example, it was obvious that LT had a lot in the tank. It was also obvious that Sanchez was too aloof, goofy and prone to periods of appearing lost. I also learned that Brian Schottenheimer will be a very good coach some day.
The Glazers didnt want to expose rah rah to the world. There is no way that letting the cameras follow him around would have turned out good for the org. They have a tutor (Grilla) assigned to him to help him speak with the media, there isnt time for this on Hard Knocks. They would not be able to guard/manipulate their image like they try to do with the local print and radio media. Smart decision for the Glazers; VERY disappointing for us.
May 16th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
@Dumbass 2.loser
Just because Rah doesn’t stick his pinky out while sippin’ hot tea doesn’t make him an embarrassment to any Buc fan.
Ever been in a football huddle? Ever been screamed at by a coach in a heated moment in a game? I don’t care if Rah used sign language to get his points across.
I know you’d be a lil punk jus as you are now.
May 16th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Guess this is a smart football move, but I sure wanted them to accept the offer. Would have loved the exposure for a star QB and HC in the making!
May 16th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Chris: I think that your argument doesnt make sense. Rah doesnt scream at his players, he chest bumps them. He doesnt chastise them, he kisses up to them. I don’t think that Rah would be an embarrassment to buc fans – we all know how he struggles with public speaking and are used to it – rah supporters think it is cute.
It would be embarrassing to the Glazers – they are the ones who pulled the plug on it. It would have the potential to cause others around the league to take jabs and make it difficult to keep rah (and his LOW salary) around if things dont go so well. It would also be slanted toward all of the arrests and drug/dui problems. It would likely expose the org for what it has become cheap, tolerant of trouble-makers if they are low=paid and talented.
May 16th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
What’s embarrassing is you. Public speaking? Come’on dude.
It’s not an argument Dumbass 2.loser. It’s a statement.
Are you from the South? Ever talk to a black person from the South? You’re the one exposing yourself.
I hear Rah can macramé with the best of them!
May 16th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@Thomas 2.2
As someone who has been around a lot of college and pro coaches and as someone who has spent a decent amount of time transcribing press conferences and interviews, I can tell you that football coaches are not eloquent individuals.
May 16th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
At Hiregreg: touche!
May 16th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@Gary
Agree it’s an opportunity…just not this season. Completely disagree that it’s a one-time deal. The Bucs are only going to grow in national interest over the next couple of years. There will be another offer.
May 16th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
This sucks!! I totally disagree.. The publicity would give the Bucs the spotlight they need and I believe could have helped locally in selling tickets. It’s stupid to say were too young to handle it. I think it would had a reverse reaction and made the team bond better. I hope we get another chance at this. Shi! This really sucks..
May 16th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
And Thomas : your a dumbarse as usual.
May 16th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
guys, Thomas is only joking
May 16th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
I have heard players say Morris will get on you for not going full speed, giving it your all, etc. He gave chect bumps on the side lines, big deal…Thomas, if this team is such an embarassment to you, by all means take your act to New England.
May 16th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
As usual Thumb-Ass 2.2 has absolutely no clue what his adolescent mind is rambling on about. Mark Dominick is 100% in charge of Football operations. The Glazers have repeated this numerous times. This is a football call and as they implied, this young team may not be quite ready for this amount of prime time exposure. I would bet Dom discussed this with the Glazers but that he and Rah made the decision to pass, not the Glazers. And not that they may not all have been in agreement anyway, but we should stick to the facts and the information at hand.
Thumbass may have been joking, but more likely was choking on something else that belonged to someone else.
Not to sound racist or anything, but Thomas, you really give White Trailer Trash a bad name. Why don’t you go brush your tooth and get back to the meth lab.
May 16th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Wow ! This would have almost certainly guaranteed sellouts for most home games . Yet the Bucs declined. Maybe they are not as greedy as some would claim , and only care about winning……. just a thought.
May 16th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I was selfishly looking fwd to all the behind the scene coverage.
1 hr weekly, devoted to the Bucs?
o well.
May 16th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@ Thomas 2.2
From your argument we can infer that you equate one’s ability to speak publicly with how good a football coach they are?
Obviously, you weren’t picked to be anyone’s team in your youth. In my experience, a good coach is one that player’s will go to war for and get excited about. Raheem has his players playing hard for him. Not to mention his ability to make uncanny half time adjustments and get the most out of late round draft picks and undrafted players.
I don’t care if Raheem sounds like Donald Duck as long as he keeps doing what he did last year.
May 16th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Exactly BigMac. I would guess the Glazers would have been in favor of doing this, because it will undoubtedly increase ticket sales. Although I would love to see the Bucs on the show, by them declining it, it shows me they are serious about winning THIS year. Although I don’t think it would hinder our performance, it’s probably not worth taking the risk.
May 17th, 2011 at 6:56 am
@JohnL
Oh, please. The Glazers hod NOTHING to do with this decision. Grow up.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Great move turning this down. The publicity would’ve been good for people to see our team. But with the youth we have and Ra’ getting them to buy into his system. The cameras will do nothing but make us arrogant. We are under the radar, and the longer we stay that way the better!!!