It’s not yet known how many people tuned in for the premiere episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” on Tuesday night but ESPN’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was not among them.
On Wednesday’s edition of First Take, Russo lashed out at the Giants and NFL Films over editing rights, claiming the team having final say on the cutting room floor defeats the purpose of the docuseries.
“I wouldn’t watch that if I had insomnia,” Russo said. “The idea that this Hard Knocks with the offseason that the Giants have editorial control when they put it together — that’s ridiculous. You can’t do a five-part series on a football team with the machinations in the offseason and then tell me it’s legitimate television when the team that you’re doing it on has final editorial control.”
The reveal that the Giants had final editorial control came during the “Giants 100: A Night with Legends” event earlier this month when Giants general manager Joe Schoen discussed appearing on the show.
“You cannot allow the Giants to have editorial control,” Russo said. “They want to see it, they want to raise grief, they want to talk to Roger Goodell about it. If you allow cameras in your locker room or in your front offices to show and chronicle the offseason, you gotta let it go. This is television, if you don’t like it, you don’t like it. But it’s good TV! It’s good for football! And the fact that the Giants will tell you what they want you to see, makes it not worthwhile. I wouldn’t watch that if it was in my backyard! I’d close the blinds!”
The problem with Russo’s stance is that he missed a key component of that editorial control. The Giants do have final say on cuts but only if they feel something caught on camera leaves them at a competitive disadvantage. It does not apply to the show as a whole.
Given that this isn’t a traditional season of Hard Knocks, it’s only fair that the Giants be allowed to protect themselves going into the season. It’s no different than beat writers being barred from recording practices and then sharing that video online for New York’s opponents to see.
There has to be some limit so as to not disrupt the competitive balance, which Russo apparently takes issue with. As if the floundering Giants need additional hurdles in front of them.
