Cleveland Browns: Could Reap Benefits from “Hard Knocks”

By CJ Oliver | Mar 24, 2015

It wouldn’t be a surprise if 2015 proved to be Cleveland’s turn in the spotlight.

Casting rumors for the popular HBO documentary series Hard Knocks, which showcases one NFL team’s off season regimen and development each year, are leaning strongly in favor of the Cleveland Browns. The original report came via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News and SiriusXM NFL Radio (via SI.com).

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The show has been on the air since 2001 and previously featured the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and, last year, the Atlanta Falcons. The Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals have also been featured twice each.

Although popular with fans, appearing on the show is controversial. Prior to the 2013 season, several teams declined the opportunity before the Bengals agreed to appear for a second time.

In order to combat this malaise, NFL ownership passed a rule in October 2013 (originally reported by Chris Wesseling of NFL.com) requiring that teams participate, with an exemption for new coaches and teams who had made the playoffs in the last 2 years. That leaves this year’s prospective focus on the St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins and New York Giants in addition to the Browns.

Hard Knocks offers a unique insight into the life and times of prospective players. Often the major storylines surround those on the bubble, humanizing the faces behind the helmets and the hard work and sacrifice needed to make an NFL roster when you’re one of the hundreds of late round or undrafted hopefuls. But it also is a disruption of day to day operations, and opens up the organization for criticism of the way it handles its business.

Cleveland can benefit from the scrutiny,

The Browns have notoriously been regarded as a convoluted mess that doesn’t have a clear direction for the future. Hard Knocks offers an in-depth look at the master plan, and the opportunity for the organization to present themselves in a direct and authentic manner. We can see the rationale for draft choices and the messages coaches are trying to send to players. If selected, the Browns have a unique opportunity to show their fans that there is a method to the madness.

Of course, that’s not really what HBO is looking for.

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback

Johnny Manziel

(2) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This is also about putting an entertaining product together and what story line over the past year has garnered more interest than Johnny Manziel’s journey from college to pro?

The Browns are front runners because that’s where the juicy gossip has the highest potential.

We still don’t know when Manziel will leave rehab. We don’t know what’s going on with Josh Gordon and his suspension appeal. And we don’t know what happened in the front office that made people like former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and tight end Jordan Cameron want to jump ship the year after showing steady improvement in a tough division.

It’s unlikely that the presence of the cameras will have negative effects on the team. The media circus is nothing new for Manziel or the city, after experiencing the madhouse that ensued when he was first drafted. It may even be an incentive for everyone to be on their best behavior.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group, Browns head coach Mike Pettine has stated that the Browns won’t volunteer and presumably aren’t looking forward to becoming the feature of the show. Cabot lays out a whole host of reasons why the show could be bad for the team.

But I see this as an opportunity to show that, despite text-gate and team turnover, Manziel’s development or lack thereof, the team has a plan and they’re executing it. That would go a long way towards building excitement among the fans.

And if there’s any team that’s emblematic of the term “Hard Knocks” – let’s face it. It’s got to be the Browns.

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