No One Wants Hard Knocks, Dolphins Shouldn’t Expect a Hometown Discount on Cook, and Other NFL Bullets

HBO’s Hard Knocks has been providing NFL fans with an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of training camps for over two decades. However, it is disappointing to note that no team seems to be ready to participate in the upcoming season. Despite the NFL’s authority to mandate team participation, numerous teams have displayed a lack of enthusiasm towards being featured on the esteemed series.

  • The NFL has three criteria for being exempt from Hard Knocks. If any team has a first-year head coach, made the playoffs in the last two years, or has been on the show within the previous 10 years. That leaves four possible teams that the NFL can force into doing Hard Knocks: the Bears, Jets, Saints, and Commanders. Among the quartet of teams, three made it clear that they had no interest whatsoever. Bears chairman George McCasky told The Athletic in March that there are 31 other teams with intriguing storylines this summer. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said he “wouldn’t like it” last week. Allen cited the distraction that it could cause the Saints. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said plenty of teams would be interested. However, the Jets “are not one of them.”
  • The Washington Commanders are the only team that has not made it publicly known that they do not want to be chosen. Considering that Commanders’ current situation, Hard Knocks is understandably the last thing on their mind. Still, one of these four teams doesn’t have a choice. So, who do we want to see selected?
  • The Bears would be my pick. Justin Fields entering year three, a significantly improved roster through free agency, the draft, etc. Inject it into my veins! Plus, the Bears have never been featured on Hard Knocks. Ownership has skirted it at all costs. But I’m tired of the veil of secrecy that Chicago sports owners prefer to operate under. If I had my way, the Bears would get the “tough luck” treatment from the NFL. Of course, the Jets have a fascinating storyline that the NFL would love to feature. The same can be said for the Commanders. Although, I’m not sure the NFL wants the Commanders to be under the Hard Knocks microscope. At least until the sale is completed, anyway.
  • The Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook on Friday. We discussed some potential landing spots, and Miami was atop my list. Cook is from Miami, the Dolphins have the cap space, and they’re a contender that would greatly benefit from a back like Dalvin Cook joining the backfield. However, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins shouldn’t expect too much of a hometown discount. “He’s not looking to give the Dolphins a substantial hometown discount, according to a source,” Jackson wrote after the Vikings released Cook on Friday.
  • According to Jackson, the sense that he is getting is that Cook will wait and see if a team surfaces that’s willing to pay him remotely close to what the Vikings would have paid him.
  • The Broncos might not have as much interest as they do fit for Dalvin Cook’s services. Mike Klis reported on Friday that the Broncos aren’t currently pursuing Cook. So, at this point it seems like it’s Miami as heavy favorites with the field being long-shots to land Cook.
  • Here’s a look at the Eagles Kelly Green jerseys for the 2023 season. I’ve always been a sucker for the Kelly Green uniforms.
  • This is just a weird story. I understand the sentiment behind wanting to create a brand, especially a lucrative one, for your kid. Still, the whole thing feels gross.
  • Some Saturday fun!
  • Not so much …
  • Read More

    written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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