The bright lights and cameras from HBO Hard Knocks may be in a town near you following around the Chicago Bears this summer.
The Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers are the eight teams that have no choice when it comes to participating on ‘Hard Knocks,’ HBO’s reality television show documenting the early goings of an NFL’s teams upcoming season. Deadspin is the first to report the list.
Fans of the shield have to be sick of seeing the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals on their television screens for Hard Knocks, and looking at the elite eight listed above, only a few teams offer intrigue and could deliver the ratings the cable network craves.
At first glance, no one gives a damn about the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars. If you say otherwise you are lying. The Giants and Rams have intriguing members on their teams (Victor Cruz and Robert Quinn, respectively), but the overall sum of the collective parts would not draw consistent ratings.
The top three choices have to be the Steelers, Cardinals, and Bears.
Pittsburgh has Mike Tomlin, a damn fine coach and a trusted person in the eyes of the Rooney family. Ben Roethlisberger would be a treat to watch with the cameras on him, and as 670 The Score’s Laurence Holmes pondered Monday night, ‘Big Ben’ would probably dislike being followed.
Believe it or not, the Cards have a lot of personality and a product trending upward. Will Carson Palmer stay around and be the man to lead the Arizona offense in the now? Imagine getting to know Tyrann ‘Honey Badger’ Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and the potentially crazy Darnell Dockett? I’d pay to see them on Sunday night Hard Knocks.
The overwhelmingly favorite to be on Hard Knocks has to be the Chicago Bears. Martellus Bennett alone is enough to book the Bears for the reality show. His thought-provoking Twitter handle and must-listen sound bites are first-class and refreshing. Toss in Brandon Marshall, his protégé Alshon Jeffery, and the soft-spoken Matt Forte and you have the offense’s ‘Odd Couple.’
Kyle Long’s family could also have a prominent role in the show. Kyle’s dad Howie and brother Chris, a current St. Louis Ram would give fans a look into playing football with family ties. That is original and uplifting television.
Of course, there is Chicago’s favorite quarterback Jay Cutler. Who wouldn’t want to see Cutler at home with his wife Kristen Cavallari and the Cutlet? Would Jay open the doors to his humble abode for television? Probably not, but it is worth the shot.
Marc Trestman on camera for an hour every Sunday? Book it. Case closed. Get the Chicago Bears on Hard Knocks.
Follow Jeff on Twitter @skcih_ffej for more sports and entertainment ramblings. If you play fantasy sports, check out The Fantasy Fix, where Jeff covers your add/drop/watch needs during baseball and hockey season, and does weekly podcasts, as well.