New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh has confirmed the franchise is not interested in taking part in this year’s 'Hard Knocks' series.
Every year, the NFL selects a team to take part in the documentary series which films the off-season workouts during the summer months. The league can force a team to take part in the 'Hard Knocks' programme, but are leaving it unusually late to make their selection this year.
In 2022, it was decided in March that the Detroit Lions would feature in the documentary before the start of last season. Ahead of 2023, there are only four teams who are eligible to be picked.
The Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders are the only teams who are eligible to be selected this year. The team that is selected would have their training camp caught on camera this off-season.
Teams can be exempt from eligibility if they have either not been selected within the last 10 years, has a first-year coach or has made the NFL playoffs in any of the previous two seasons. Should a team meet the required criteria, the league can force a team to take part in the series.
However, Jets head coach Saleh has admitted that he is not interested in having 'Hard Knocks' involved during their summer plans. The 44-year-old was taking part in his press conference duties on Friday after the latest organized team activities session (OTA).
“I haven’t gotten word or anything like that,” Saleh told reporters, when asked if he had heard whether or not the Jets had been selected to feature in 'Hard Knocks'.
The Jets head coach added: “I know there are several teams that would love 'Hard Knocks' to be in their building, we’re just not one of them.”
Should the Jets not be selected, it would mean that one of the Bears, Saints or the Commanders would be chosen to take part in this year’s series. However, there is likely to be a lot of interest in the Jets this year given their off-season business.
New star quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be the subject of attention over the course of his first season with the Jets. The 39-year-old was traded to the Jets after 18 years with the Green Bay Packers, during which time he won one Super Bowl and was named NFL MVP four times.
Rodgers is not the only new addition to the Jets locker room. He isn’t even the only new arrival to make the switch from the Packers.
Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, who both played alongside Rodgers in Wisconsin, have joined the Jets ahead of the 2023 regular season. It remains to be seen which team will be selected to take part in 'Hard Knocks', but the Jets have made it clear that it’s not something they are interested in this year.
