Ready For “Hard Knocks”
March 28th, 2017
Prepared.
If it happens, it seems the Bucs may be ready.
That’s the word from the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman, lead columnist for JoeBucsFan.com and Tampa Bay’s lone voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Being the NFL bigshot he is, Ira accompanied Joe to Phoenix for the NFL Owners Meetings and, yesterday Ira talked turkey with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, as one would expect.
The subject of the NFL Films-produced HBO reality series “Hard Knocks” came up. The Bucs are a candidate to be featured through training camp this year. And Licht believes, per Ira, the Bucs are prepared.
@IKaufman76: Jason Licht says he is confident that the Bucs have a locker room that is mature enough to handle “Hard Knocks” if it comes to fruition
Joe remembers talking to a Bucs coach at East-West Shrine Game practices in St. Petersburg in January. Joe was told several Bucs coaches have gone through “Hard Knocks,” and that after the first day or two, NFL Films crews aren’t noticeable and the issue of distractions is overblown.
While said coach was not eager to host a “Hard Knocks” series, it seems even back in January, the team was bracing for it.
Joe will just say this about “Hard Knocks:” If an alleged distraction by a film crew in August is causing a team to lose games in November and December, then the team has much bigger issues than a production crew shooting film everywhere. There is zero evidence that “Hard Knocks” causes teams to wig out.
March 28th, 2017 at 9:37 am
Make it so! I think the time is right.
March 28th, 2017 at 9:37 am
I just dont wanna be forced to order hbo
March 28th, 2017 at 9:43 am
u wouldn’t have to, u could find it easily online for free
March 28th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Cue the knuckleheads who think Hard Knocks will be a distraction.
If you think a few extra cameras out of the way of the players is a distraction then this team doesn’t have what it takes to be a playoff team.
March 28th, 2017 at 10:00 am
Joe Thomas the other day Twittered the most overrated thing in the NFL is “distractions.” Remember what Jason Licht said? “Losing is a distraction.” But nope, the “football-is-more-classified-than-the-CIA” crowd will freak out. LOL
Already NFL Films and the Bucs themselves have cameras all over the place at every training camp practice, not to mention every local TV station if not BSPN and FOX. So an extra one or two cameras will spell doom? In August? smh
March 28th, 2017 at 10:03 am
No team is ready for Hard Knocks..just a HUGE distraction.
March 28th, 2017 at 10:15 am
the less distractions the better…Hope it doesn’t happen…
March 28th, 2017 at 10:20 am
“Watching peter schragers feet sticking out of jason licht arse all throughout camp will be unbearable” Kobe faker
March 28th, 2017 at 10:28 am
Hope it don’t happen. But the Browns on or redskins. Think it’s a bad idea
March 28th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Silly season is in full bloom. No to HK. I agree that its not a distraction for vets but rookies…yes distraction.
Joe – 1 or 2 more cameras? I am not sure that is an accurate assessment of HBOs production crew of 20 solid staff.
March 28th, 2017 at 10:43 am
Have never watched Hard Knocks, so don’t know the pros or cons. However, living on the west coast, I’m hungry for all things Bucs, so bring it on!
March 28th, 2017 at 10:45 am
“WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!” Cameras be damned!
March 28th, 2017 at 10:51 am
I fail to see how hardknocks will be a distraction. There are already cameras and crews at every training camp. So…
Jameis and Kwon are meant for the spotlight. They would be great. Mike Evans is an elite talent so theres that. And of course Miko will be there im sure. Her outspoken opinions = ratings. Plus we all get to see Dirk up close and uncensored. That alone would be a treat for Buc fans. I would love to see Dirk and his staff plotting and planning. Yelling at players in the hot humid Tampa heat. How cool. The team is primed for some national exposure.
March 28th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Teams have still made the playoffs after doing HK.
March 28th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Joe IMO it will suck because teams will have an insight of the impact Desean Jackson will have on offense and what type of chemistry him and Winston will have.if it was year 2 of Jackson’s deal than in all in but not this year.nope.nah.nay.
March 28th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Boom, great point Joe. Hard Knocks is nothing new. Bucs, my extension of being professionals in the NFL, can absolutely handle a couple extra cameras being in their face without falling apart. Bring on Hard Knocks
March 28th, 2017 at 11:48 am
Maybe it’s the Bucs homer in me, but you’d think all parties involved would love to get Jameis on camera.
March 28th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
Hard Knocks is filmed in Training Camp. There is no reason at all that it would be a distraction during the regular season.
At worse, it would make the players cocky, and frankly, cocky is a good thing right now. They need swag.
March 28th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
I’ve been waiting for the Bucs to be on Hard Knocks for years. I truely believe Bucs are destined for the playoffs this year and would make it the perfect time to be on the show. Jameis wont let cameras distract this team. Would love an inside look during training camp. GO BUCS!!!
March 28th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Has any team one the Super Bowl after being featured on hard knocks? If the answer is no then let someone else be on the show. Go Bucs!
March 28th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
I doubt it would be a problem.
And gotta admit- would love to see more of the Bucs.
Getting Kwon some well deserved press almost makes it worth while.
March 28th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
i just don’t want to have to watch the show, and listen to idiot narratives the show makes up for ratings. Hard Knocks is crap.
March 28th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
I have to believe even the film executives, managers, and production toads of HBO are human, and what human would not want to come stay in Tampa for a month or so and spend some time on the beach and other local places? One Buc Place is a showcase in terms of NFL Team HQs and outshines most others…so it will do Tampa Bay and the Bucs well. I say do it; get it over with!
March 28th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Fred…I could think of 25 better NFL places for humans to stay than Tampa.
March 28th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
I say NO to Hard Knocks!!!!!
Teams never do well the season they are on HK. And besides…..you’ll never see the Patriots on HK! Just Saying
Go Bucs!!!!
March 28th, 2017 at 5:12 pm
@Calbucs, its a great series. Ive missed the past 2 seasons because of work and life, but if you have the time, its great reality tv. Gives a nice insight into the world of NFL teams and players trying to make it on that team. I hope it happens for us.
March 28th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Buc1987…guess it’s all perspective. I can think of 25 worse NFL places…and probably more!
March 28th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Patently inaccurate. Roughly half the teams featured on “Hard Knocks” reach the playoffs. Joe wrote about this maybe a month ago.
March 28th, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Here’s hoping we get selected. That would be amazing. Distraction pistraction. We talkin bout practice.