Bengals going to be the 2009 Hardknocks

[Kazkal]

Bengals To Be On Hard Knocks

Posted by Mike Florio on April 28, 2009, 5:07 p.m.

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Equirer reports (via TSB) that the Bengals might be the next NFL franchise featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks.

We recently were told (and of course forgot to post) that the Bengals are and will be the subjects of the 2009 season of the show.

Many teams want no part of the endeavor, due to concerns that their opponents would study every second of the coverage in the hopes of gaining an advantage.

Those fears might be unfounded. Still, ”might” won’t change the views of ultra-secretive football minds like Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and Scott Pioli.

Let’s say the chances of yielding a competitive advantage are only one percent if a team participates in the series.

If they don’t, the chances of that happening are zero.

Wonder if our draft had anything to do with it.

[HairOnFire]

Looks like I finally have a reason to resume paying for HBO.

I dumped them immediately after the final episode of "The Wire" aired, and everytime I check my guide it seems they're still showing the same stuff as before.

[UF_Gators_15]

Looks like I finally have a reason to resume paying for HBO.

I dumped them immediately after the final episode of "The Wire" aired, and everytime I check my guide it seems they're still showing the same stuff as before.

This is good, gr8 way for us to see more of our Bengals but it's nothing more than that b/c when others were on it I had no other thought about it!

[HairOnFire]

Damn, it took about fifteen minutes to hit me, but all of the sudden a thought bubbled to the surface and I went weak in the knees.

Chad Ocho Douche gets to play for the cameras on HBO.

Holy crap.

[membengal]

Hell, it will probably be something of an incentive for him to get to camp and try hard. Score one for the Bengals on the motivation front...

[UF_Gators_15]

Damn, it took about fifteen minutes to hit me, but all of the sudden a thought bubbled to the surface and I went weak in the knees.

Chad Ocho Douche gets to play for the cameras on HBO.

Holy crap.

Holy s**te! Drama Queen on a drama channel, in the words of T.O. da douche "Get ur popcorn ready!"

[walzav29]

This isn't good. I hope it's not true. There is NO WAY this isn't a distraction.

[Whur CHad At?]

Hard Knocks I knew the Bengals would have our own reality show. Fits well with us

[mgilgris]

let it be known I think this would be bad for the bengals but interesting to watch. However, how poetic if the bengals did get it, and right before it starts ... chad gets traded.

I know he isnt going to be traded but i couldnt imagine a better scenario.

[kingwilly]

Hard Knocks I knew the Bengals would have our own reality show. Fits well with us

Better option than COPS I guess.

Patriots to be featured on the next CHEATERS.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Damn, it took about fifteen minutes to hit me, but all of the sudden a thought bubbled to the surface and I went weak in the knees.

Chad Ocho Douche gets to play for the cameras on HBO.

Holy crap.

Yeah, that was my immediate reaction to the question of "why the Bengals?" Answer: drama, highlighted by Ocho Doucho. In no way is that good for getting Chad ready to play. HBO is also probably counting on gunplay from Slim and Tank.

Speaking of which, I have a sneaking suspicion about something: Slim hasn't gotten so much as a parking ticket, to my knowledge, in some time. Might he have started figuring it out? I've always said that if he stopped being a moron, he'd be our #1 receiver. He's got the talent. I think there's a good chance that if he shows up with his head straight - and things are looking positive there - that the Bengals might decide Chad's more trouble than he's worth and trade him for cheap, since they've currently 3 receivers of the same basic type.

How's that for good TV?

[walzav29]

Prediction - Chad will come out and start kissing and making up, because he will be worried how is perceived on HBO. There will be a story with him in it soon. Just a prediction - not a WALZAV fact.

[HairOnFire]

Hell, it will probably be something of an incentive for him to get to camp and try hard.

It's possible. Chad has to realize his reputation has taken a huge hit and a show like Hardknocks might be the quickest way to correct the self-inflicted damage. But at this point you've got to wonder if he's still capable of controlling his emotions. And for those who think he can then don't you have to conclude his previous actions were the result of calculated decision making? So whose to say he wouldn't look into the lenses of HBO's cameras and see an opportunity for more douchebaggery? How hard is it to imagine week after week of griping about his contract? Can you imagine a more perfect platform to take shots at the Bengals front office, it's coaching staff, etc.

Score one for the Bengals on the motivation front...

Fair enough, but how do we score this one? It feels like it could go either way. So do we give further credit to Mike for agreeing to the proposal OR do we line up to kick him in the nuts for allowing cameras into the Bengals dysfunctional house?

[ArmyBengal]

I'm sure whatever is shot, the Bengals have final say over what is going to be aired. I can't see in a million years lawyer-boy Mike letting something like that happen. He will ensure that he has final say over what is or is not allowed for the show. Anything else aired would probably result in a very quick lawsuit from Mike.

Either way, I'm not interested or disinterested in the show. With Marvin saying how he dislikes Monday Night games do to the fact they don't allow for proper focus and lack of preparation going into next weeks game, I can't see this being viewed in a good light by him. Total distraction from what he's trying to accomplish.

Anyway, whatever works...

[walzav29]

Is this a fact yet? Have they been chose or are being considered?

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm sure whatever is shot, the Bengals have final say over what is going to be aired. I can't see in a million years lawyer-boy Mike letting something like that happen. He will ensure that he has final say over what is or is not allowed for the show. Anything else aired would probably result in a very quick lawsuit from Mike.

I'm not sure what kind of lawsuit that would be. I can pretty much assure you, however, that HBO will be released from any liability as a term of any agreement with any team that's on their show. Who would you think Mike Brown will sue? You can't sue a person just for saying you suck. Essentially, it's like anything else. Players say the right things to avoid burning bridges. If Chad bangs away on the team he risks more of the same type of feedback he received last offseason. I'm not saying he wouldn't do it, I'm just saying he has already seen that he's perceived as a jackass when he does. Plus, it seems to me that when Chad gets near a field he leaves the contract stuff and just pretty much with the straight, old-school I'm better than everybody else and I'm always open stuff. It's easier to remember his lines that way. Not sure it's worth re-activating HBO for just yet.

[ArmyBengal]

I'm just saying that I think Mikey would want some say over what is or is not aired during the show and if that say were to not be met after their was an agreement in place, that I wouldn't put it past Mikey to do that. Nothing more. I'm not trying to be a lawyer or anything here...

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm just saying that I think Mikey would want some say over what is or is not aired during the show and if that say were to not be met after their was an agreement in place, that I wouldn't put it past Mikey to do that. Nothing more. I'm not trying to be a lawyer or anything here...

I gotcha. My point is just that I think teams use these as vehicles for exposure. They aren't really in the driver's seat. The main concern is that no information gets out that can benefit another team they may play. HBO has a league of lawyers (none of which will even look at my resume) and I'm pretty certain the negotiation goes something like this:

HBO: We're thinking about the Bengals for Hardknocks 09.

MB: Awesome. Water is $4 per bottle for your employees. Also, I want to have final approval before the show airs.

HBO: Ummm, no. But we will let you watch while we are filming.

MB: Awesome.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Either way, I'm not interested or disinterested in the show. With Marvin saying how he dislikes Monday Night games do to the fact they don't allow for proper focus and lack of preparation going into next weeks game, I can't see this being viewed in a good light by him. Total distraction from what he's trying to accomplish.

Oh, no doubt. Marvin will absolutely hate this. He hates press conferences under controlled circumstances; imagine if cameras have full access to camp.

I'm inclined to subscribe to HBO just to see the look on Marvin's face.

[Dadraftnick]

As much as I would would enjoy watching it , I hope that the Bengals dont do it.

You give up too much info on your team , personel and stratagy.

Every year the team is trying to slip somebody thats good past waivers to put on the practice squad ,those guys are going to be hard to hide when the whole NFL has been watching them on TV every week.

There is also, the amount of crap that is going to come form the A- hole $hitsburgh fans at Profootball talk that will be trying to rip the Bengals on something that was on the show every day.

The show would be Chad's excuse to intensify his anal antics to an even higher degree if, he has camera in his face every day.

Even though, he is one of the worst actors ever, he thinks he is a great actor, he will use the excuse of a camera being there to put on a show to the nation of how unhappy he is.

I think its a bad idea all around for the Bengals.

It sure didnt do anything for the Cowboys.

[HairOnFire]

Oh, no doubt. Marvin will absolutely hate this. He hates press conferences under controlled circumstances; imagine if cameras have full access to camp.

I wonder. Marvin was one of the featured personalities on the very first Hardknock, and he recently lobbied for the opportunity to coach the Senior Bowl...and the weeks long scrutiny that comes with it. Furthermore, I'd say Marvin's disdain for the media is limited to the local stiffs, and he can hardly be blamed for that.

A bigger concern is the almost reclusive Mike Brown, as Joe Reedy just pointed out. Mike's been a figure of public ridicule for decades now and you have to wonder if HBO's cameras will attempt to peek behind the curtain from time to time. If they do they may be in for a suprise, especially after the way Jerry Jones constantly mugged for the camera.

[membengal]

Hell, it will probably be something of an incentive for him to get to camp and try hard.

It's possible. Chad has to realize his reputation has taken a huge hit and a show like Hardknocks might be the quickest way to correct the self-inflicted damage. But at this point you've got to wonder if he's still capable of controlling his emotions. And for those who think he can then don't you have to conclude his previous actions were the result of calculated decision making? So whose to say he wouldn't look into the lenses of HBO's cameras and see an opportunity for more douchebaggery? How hard is it to imagine week after week of griping about his contract? Can you imagine a more perfect platform to take shots at the Bengals front office, it's coaching staff, etc.

Score one for the Bengals on the motivation front...

Fair enough, but how do we score this one? It feels like it could go either way. So do we give further credit to Mike for agreeing to the proposal OR do we line up to kick him in the nuts for allowing cameras into the Bengals disfunctional house?

Who knows? My musing there is just a musing. It could just as easily and more probably give Chad a bigger platform to continue his douchiest douche ever campaign. But I am hoping that Evil Incarnate (Rosenhaus) will pull him aside between now and camp and mention that if he wants to be employable at the end of his current gig, he will need to do some image and reputation repair. And one of the ways to do that would be to actually try hard and "show" well for hbo's cameras. Could go either way. Frankly, neither would surprise me.

[Walrus]

Either way, I'm not interested or disinterested in the show. With Marvin saying how he dislikes Monday Night games do to the fact they don't allow for proper focus and lack of preparation going into next weeks game, I can't see this being viewed in a good light by him. Total distraction from what he's trying to accomplish.

Oh, no doubt. Marvin will absolutely hate this. He hates press conferences under controlled circumstances; imagine if cameras have full access to camp.

I'm inclined to subscribe to HBO just to see the look on Marvin's face.

I get the impression that Marvin just doesn't like answering what he sees as dumb questions asked by ignorant people. I don't see perceive him to be particularly secretive or paranoid (by NFL head coaching standards). I suspect if the deal goes through it won't matter to him one way or the other.

[kingwilly]

well, it has not been discussed but I think there is a hard knocks curse, akin to a low-level Madden curse.

2001 - Baltimore

Billick's ego was front/center

team went 10-6

2002 - Dallas

Campo bumbling around

5-11 with Quincy Wilson on the trigger...

2004 - Jax

Del Rio acting smart/tough

9-7 missed playoffs

2007 - KC

Herm on Herm - awesome TV

4-12 ---- a real bad team

2008 - Dallas

TO, Romo, Jones, Phillips... awesome TV

9-7 - missed playoffs

Teams on the show are 37-42 combined record... not promising.

All the teams had high expectations going into camp... especially the cowboys.

I'd lke to see it be the Bengals just so we might see the inner workings of a dysfunctional family run business... and SoP's sea-foam lumina.

[Walrus]

Teams on the show are 37-42 combined record... not promising.

...

I'd lke to see it be the Bengals just so we might see the inner workings of a dysfunctional family run business... and SoP's sea-foam lumina.

37-42? And what's the Bengals' record in that timeframe? This show can only help us!

And I agree that it could go a long way in confirming our darkest suspicions of the behind-the-scenes goings-on at PBS.