Hard Knocks (TV series)

Hard Knocks
Genre	Sports Reality television Documentary series
Developed by	HBO Sports NFL Films
Starring	Baltimore Ravens (2001) Dallas Cowboys (2002) Kansas City Chiefs (2007) Dallas Cowboys (2008) Cincinnati Bengals (2009) New York Jets (2010)
Narrated by	Paul Rudd (2007) Liev Schreiber (2001-2002, 2008-2010)
Theme music composer	Dave Robidoux
Composer(s)	Dave Robidoux
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	30 (as of July 2011) (6 in 2001, 6 in 2002, 5 in 2007, 3 in 2008, 5 in 2009, 5 in 2010)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Steve Sabol Rick Bernstein Ross Greenburg
Producer(s)	Ken Rodgers Keith Cossrow
Location(s)	Varies
Running time	~55 minutes (commercial-free)
Broadcast
Original channel	HBO
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Stereo Dolby Digital 5.1
Original run	2001 (2001) – present
External links
Website

Hard Knocks is a reality sports documentary television series produced by NFL Films and HBO. The series follows a select National Football League team through its training camp and provides an in-depth perspective of the team's preparation for the upcoming season. The series is described as one of the fastest turnaround reality series in television history. The series covers the team's preparations for the upcoming season and provides viewers with team inside jokes and pranks, players' family matters, and position battles. The series especially focuses on rookies' adjustments to the NFL, usually with the team's highest draft selection and an undrafted or journeyman player that looks to make the team.

Seasons

Baltimore Ravens (2001)

Main article: 2001 Baltimore Ravens season

The series with the Ravens covered:

• The team looking to repeat as Super Bowl winners.
• Rookies Todd Heap and Dwayne Missouri's adjustment to professional football.
• The team's adjustment after a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis.
• The veterans on the team in the final years of their careers (Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Qadry Ismail, and Tony Siragusa).
• The quarterback competition between Elvis Grbac and Randall Cunningham.
• Ozzie Newsome and Brian Billick's management of the team.

Dallas Cowboys (2002)

Main article: 2002 Dallas Cowboys season

The Cowboys' first series covered:

• Quincy Carter's pressure to stay the consistent starting quarterback and the acquisition of Chad Hutchinson as a backup quarterback.
• Rookie Roy Williams' adjustment to professional football.
• Emmitt Smith beginning his final season in Dallas and his pursuit to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
• Dave Campo heading into his third (and eventually, final) season as Dallas' head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs (2007)

Main article: 2007 Kansas City Chiefs season

The series returned on August 8, 2007 when the series followed the Kansas City Chiefs and their preparations for the 2007 season. The series with the Chiefs covered:

• The battle for the starting quarterback job between veteran Damon Huard and second-year player Brodie Croyle following the trade of Trent Green.
• Star running back Larry Johnson's contract holdout.
• Priest Holmes' attempted return to football after missing all of 2006 after a career-threatening neck injury.
• The holdout and development of rookie first-round wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
• Boomer Grigsby's switch from linebacker to fullback.
• The development of rookie defensive linemen Tank Tyler and Turk McBride.
• The competition between two undrafted cornerbacks - Tyron Brackenridge and Dimitri Patterson.
• Arena Football League star Bobby Sippio's attempt to catch on with an outdoor team.

Dallas Cowboys (2008)

Main article: 2008 Dallas Cowboys season

The Dallas Cowboys were once again chronicled on the television series' fourth season, which premiered on August 6, 2008. The series with the Cowboys covered:

• Adam "Pacman" Jones reinstatement into the NFL.
• Keon Lattimore, younger brother of Ray Lewis competing for a roster spot.
• Todd Lowber, athletic wide receiver who is new to the game of football, trying to make the team.
• Undersized receiver Danny Amendola, competing for a roster spot.
• Rookies Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett adjusting to NFL camp for the first time.

Cincinnati Bengals (2009)

Main article: 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season

The Cincinnati Bengals series premiered on August 12, 2009. Its ratings were higher than any previous season of the HBO series and was a winner of a Sports Emmy. The season covered:

• The battle for the starting FB position between Jeremi Johnson, Chris Pressley, Fui Vakapuna, and J.D. Runnels.
• The injuries of tight ends Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht and the adjustment of rookie tight end Chase Coffman to the NFL.
• The contract holdout of the Bengals' first-round draft pick, Andre Smith.
• The battle for the starting strong safety position between veterans Roy Williams and Chinedum Ndukwe.
• Quarterback Carson Palmer trying to recover from an injury-plagued 2008 season.
• Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco's antics and catchphrases.

New York Jets (2010)

Main article: 2010 New York Jets season

The New York Jets were chronicled in the series' sixth season. An official announcement was made on March 25, 2010. HBO began airing Hard Knocks on August 11, 2010.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets won an Emmy for Outstanding Edited Sports Series in 2010.

• The vocal coaching style of Rex Ryan, highlighted by several soundbites that became popular after the series ("That's being a jackass!" "Let's go eat a goddamned snack!").
• Cornerback Darrelle Revis' contract holdout was an ongoing story.
• The battle for the starting fullback position between veteran Tony Richardson, journeyman Jason Davis and rookie John Conner.
• Second year quarterback Mark Sanchez's development as face of the franchise.
• Kris Jenkins' return after ACL surgery.
• Running back Danny Woodhead's attempt to make the team.

2011 Season

At the end of July 2011, NFL Films announced it would not be doing Hard Knocks for the 2011 season. No team wanted to commit to doing the show because of the uncertainty of the labor situation.

External links

• Official website
• Hard Knocks at the Internet Movie Database
• Hard Knocks at TV.com
• Sabol: Best Hard Knocks Ever by Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, September 9, 2009