HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ to feature team’s training camp, Gruden
Jon Gruden left TV for a second turn as the Raiders’ head coach.
The cameras are following him.
The Raiders will be the featured team this year on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” training-camp show, it was announced Tuesday. The series will debut Aug. 6 and run until Sept. 3.
As one of five teams ineligible to turn down the show this summer, the Raiders were seen as a likely target, given their wealth of compelling story lines.
Those include the arrivals of receiver Antonio Brown, following his high-profile split from the Steelers, oft-disciplined linebacker Vontaze Burfict and guard Richie Incognito, who’s attempting to make the team after a history of off-the-field issues.
The Raiders also have a first-year general manager in Mike Mayock, who also has a background in TV, and are preparing for their final season in Oakland before a scheduled move to Las Vegas in 2020.
“If you’re a fan of football or great storytelling, ‘Hard Knocks’ with the Oakland Raiders is going to be must-see television,” Peter Nelson, executive vice president of HBO Sports, said in a news release.
Gruden seemed to expect the announcement earlier Tuesday. Before the Raiders held the first practice of their mandatory minicamp, Gruden brought up the show unprompted while talking about running back Josh Jacobs and the team’s other rookies.
“Who knows, maybe ‘Hard Knocks’ will come and cover that,” Gruden deadpanned. “That’d be awesome, wouldn’t it?”
Other teams ineligible to turn down “Hard Knocks” this year included the 49ers, Giants, Lions and Washington —
“They do a really good job of staying out of your way. The positive thing is you find out a lot about your team and the coaches on the staff.” Paul Guenther, Raiders defensive coordinator, on being featured on “Hard Knocks”
the last coached by Gruden’s brother, Jay, who touted the Raiders’ candidacy. Jon Gruden was asked Tuesday if he had any response to that.
“No,” Gruden said, “I’m not talking to my brother again.”
Publicly, the Raiders had said they did not want to be on “Hard Knocks,” which will bring a 30-person crew to the team’s training camp in Napa. In March, owner Mark Davis jokingly told ESPN that if selected, he’d fire and rehire Gruden to avoid the show, as teams with new head coaches are exempt.
Some Raiders seemed amenable to it lately. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and Burfict were with Cincinnati when the Bengals were featured in 2013 and said they didn’t find it a huge distraction.
“They do a really good job of staying out of your way,” Guenther said. “I think the positive thing is you find out a lot about your team and the coaches on the staff . ... When the camera is on you, are you going to be a different guy or a different player, or if you’re not.”
Cornerback Daryl Worley on Tuesday said: “I think it would be fun. We have a lot of new personalities, new guys on the team,”
Worley also was asked who from the Raiders would star on the show.
“That goes without being said,” Worley replied. “A.B.”