HBO's 'NFL Hard Knocks' is no longer voluntary

[BonafideDefacto]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...ers-pass-hard-knocks-rule-at-nfl-fall-meeting

The greatest football-related program in television history just received assurance from the NFL that it will continue to air the show even if no team is interested in subjecting itself to the national spotlight.


A source in the room told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport the league passed a rule Tuesday during the NFL Fall Meeting that will compel one team per year to participate in the HBO/NFL Films joint venture, "Hard Knocks."

The league still will ask for volunteers. If one is not forthcoming, a team will be appointed. All organizations will be eligible with the exception of those that have a first-year head coach; teams that have made the playoffs in at least one of the last two seasons; and teams that have participated in the previous 10 seasons.
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This is a tacit acknowledgment from the NFL that the show's range and power are an invaluable asset to professional football, regardless of any perceived invasion of privacy.
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Fans will continue to revel in the now classic training-camp story lines, including the lovable underdog, coach tantrums, position battles and rookie hazing.
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I'm already looking forward to another rendition of Dan Hanzus' entertaining and all-encompassing "Hard Knocks" recaps.

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I've been waiting on this rule for a few years now. I'm tired of seeing the same'ol attention wanting teams in it. Put some randoms on it.

I honestly wouldn't be mad if the Steelers got it next year. Under the guidelines, if we dont make the playoffs, we will be eligible. I know every fan disagrees, but oh well. At the end of the day everyone is putting on the same pads
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[nalej]

I'd be pissed if I was a coach.

 

[dtownreppin214]

"what do voluntary mean?" *darren hambrick voice*

 

[Spaceman Piff]

love hard knocks

when the players get cut though

 

[Shogun]

I'd be pissed if I was a coach.

If they don't like it they can seek employment elsewhere

 

[Da King]

even the boring ass Bengals team was fun to watch, it's great television, glad to hear this


and to the team that gets forced to do it.......

 

[Absolut]

terrible. id imagine there will be lawsuits in the future from teams that dont want this nonsense in their training camps

 

[yoyoyo1]

word, a bunch of scrubby mediocre white bread teams no one cares about have done it and it's been entertaining

get the giants, pats, cowboys in there and ratings go up tenfold

 

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I honestly wouldn't be mad if the Steelers got it next year. Under the guidelines, if we dont make the playoffs, we will be eligible. I know every fan disagrees, but oh well. At the end of the day everyone is putting on the same pads
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tbh with the way this season is going, putting the steelers on hard knocks would be great fukkin tv

 

[BonafideDefacto]

terrible. id imagine there will be lawsuits in the future from teams that dont want this nonsense in their training camps

So you missed the part where all the owners signed off on it eh...

 

[No1]

It's voluntary if you made the playoff two years in a row. That means all the good teams can say

 

[gho3st]

NFL is about its paper...fukk what you think

 

[NYC Rebel]

I'd be pissed if I was a coach.

 

[Real]

I'd be pissed if I was a coach.

Me too. But good thing i'm not a coach


As a fan, this is awesome

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

They need to pay players and coaches to participate if they gonna make it mandatory.