As we await the first episode of the Jets’ Hard Knocks series, it’s important to remember one truth while we argue over how welcoming (or not) the team should be to cameras: No team owes Hard Knocks anything.
It’s no secret that the Jets were less than welcoming to the idea of hosting Hard Knocks. ESPN reported some of the specifics earlier this week. I’ve heard from coaches who have, when approached by HBO in previous years, promised to make life so miserable for the documentary crew that they opted to go in a different direction. That level of disdain, while seemingly over the top, is understandable once you realize the finite edge that each of these clubs are scrambling for. Having a living, breathing miniseries being crafted about the inner workings of your franchise is most certainly a disadvantage. Not aiding in the creation of that miniseries is not defiance or fear or paranoia, it’s common sense.
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