2015 Hard Knocks: High Wattage

[SeoulSoxFan]

@viccarucci Hearing the #Browns are front-runners for next featured team on HBO Hard Knocks series.

 
Carucci, the former & current Bills reporter, has worked as the senior editor for the Browns for the last 3 years and presumably still plugged-in with Cleveland sources. 
 
You have an owner who just paid $92m fine for cheating customers (no, not the Browns fans) out of the Flying J chain of truck stops, front-office that changes more often than Taylor Swift's beaus, Josh Gordon's possible year-long suspension, and of course Johnny Football's heroic rehab saga.
 
This has the chance to eclipse the Jets season as the most spectacular Hard Knocks ever.

 

[Tony C]

Just that they would agree to this is an indication of how dysfunctional they are! Get your popcorn ready....

 

[mauf]

Just that they would agree to this is an indication of how dysfunctional they are! Get your popcorn ready....

I don't think they have a choice. If you missed the playoffs, don't have a first-year coach and haven't been featured on "Hard Knocks" in the past decade, you're at the mercy of the NFL/HBO marketing folks.

 

[sodenj5]

This will be highly interesting if the Browns end up drafting Mariota.

 

[Norm loves Vera]

Candidly, I was hoping the Bills would get the nod.

 

[wibi]

Candidly, I was hoping the Bills would get the nod.

 
I believe no team who has a new coach is eligible for Hard Knocks so your hope of the Bills getting it was never going to happen this year

 

[theapportioner]

I believe no team who has a new coach is eligible for Hard Knocks so your hope of the Bills getting it was never going to happen this year

 
Unless they volunteer.

 

[theapportioner]

I'm surprised that Chip Kelly and the Eagles aren't front runners.

 

[mauf]

The twelve teams that made the playoffs are out. So are teams with new coaches: the Bears, Bills, Jets, Falcons, Raiders and 49ers. In addition, the Chiefs and Dolphins have been on the show in recent years; they won't get tapped again.
 
That leaves the Browns, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers, Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Vikings, Saints, Bucs and Rams.
 
If I'm choosing from that list, I'd pick the train wreck in Washington, but the Browns are an interesting pick also.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Washington and Cleveland would be fun, but after all their moves this offseason, I sure would love to see Philly up close.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Browns decline to do Hard Knocks, citing a desire to give Manziel at least some chance at not being a distraction.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

HK: Texans kicks off tonight. Volinator tweets from a Pats angle:
 

@BenVolin Tonight's #HardKnocks premier will feature Vince Wilfork receiving his Super Bowl ring at the #Patriots private event at the Kraft house

 
I'm excited to see how BOB's running the show. Watts will star of course, but there are plenty of other Patriots connections including Mallett & Hoyer in "heated" QB competition. 

 

[amarshal2]

Vince "Jordan" Wilfork dominates on the bball court:
 
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000508454/Vince-Jordan-Wilfork-dominates-at-basketball

 

[loshjott]

Skins-Texans joint practices this week ended in several brawls, prompting the coaches to separate the teams for the last sessions.  ESPN and HBO were filming it and Skins employees tried to stop them, but they wouldn't. That'll be a fun episode.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Vince "Jordan" Wilfork dominates on the bball court:
 
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000508454/Vince-Jordan-Wilfork-dominates-at-basketball

 
Is it me or Bianca lost a hell of a lot of weight in that video?

 

[bakahump]

UNSTOPPABLE down on the blocks.

 

[Rook05]

Now that was a great opening episode.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I want to...
Play hoops with Vince,
Partner with Watt in cornhole
Have a beer with O'Brien
Talk about Brady with Hoyer
give Kevin Johnson a hug
Get Hopkins on my fantasy team. Along with Kevin Johnson's sister

No Clowney sightings, right?

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Now that was a great opening episode.

Note: merged the new HK thread with the existing one.

 

[Marciano490]

Great seeing Vrabel too. Didn't realize he was on their staff. Man, Id love to spend a day in the gym with Watt.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

DeAngelo Hall breaking his ankles after talking crap was the highlight. 

 

[Shelterdog]

Great seeing Vrabel too. Didn't realize he was on their staff. Man, Id love to spend a day in the gym with Watt.

 
I'd rather spend an hour in Watt's after hours solo practice (with film crew, ball boys, and 500 fans).  What a gritmeister!

 

[ivanvamp]

Vince "Jordan" Wilfork dominates on the bball court:
 
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000508454/Vince-Jordan-Wilfork-dominates-at-basketball

 
I know it's just silly pick-up, but Vince has a very nice release.  Guy is a legit serious athlete.

 

[GregHarris]

Great episode. This is as close to a Patriots Hard Knocks we are going to get.

 

[GregHarris]

Also who was that player who was mentioning that Garcon never shut up with the Colts too. He was standing near Watt.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

Also who was that player who was mentioning that Garcon never shut up with the Colts too. He was standing near Watt.

That was Brian Cushing

 

[Red Averages]

1 - Watt is an absolute beast.  Must be eye opening to the rest of the team that immediately after they get yelled at for a bad practice Watt is working out until 9:30 pm and signing autographs for another hour while the rest of the defense is nowhere to be seen.
2 - Amazing how much the Texans talk about their Patriot experience (Wilfork, O'Brien, Hoyer, Mallet).  Have to think that happens everywhere around the league and a great reason why so many veterans still come to NE when they are willing to sacrifice short term money for a chance to win.
3 - Agreed, DeAngelo's 30 seconds was the highlight of the episode.
4- love this show, generally the first episode is one of the worst as they introduce all the players so it was great to see this episode seem smooth.

 

[Snoop Soxy Dogg]

And Kevin Johnson's sister..Jeez.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

I want to...
Play hoops with Vince,
Partner with Watt in cornhole
Have a beer with O'Brien
Talk about Brady with Hoyer
give Kevin Johnson a hug
Get Hopkins on my fantasy team. Along with Kevin Johnson's sister

No Clowney sightings, right?

 
No specific features on Clowney, but I spotted him more than a few times in meetings, etc. He was near Watt at the end when Romeo gave the D a bunch of shit. 

 

[sachmoney]

A good amount of Clowney in episode 2. Looks like there will be a lot more in episode 3. JJ Watt and Vince talking about brunch had me rolling around the couch laughing. The high point of the episode, though, was Bill O'Brien yelling for them to put on music and yelling "Rick Ross...WOOOOOOO!" 
 
I like Brian Cushing as a football player. I do not like him as a person.
 
This season has been awesome. Houston is easily my second favorite team this year.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

 
I like Brian Cushing as a football player. I do not like him as a person.
 

Not sure if he's being extra pricky for the cameras or if they edited it to make him seem extra dicky, but  my god what a fucking asshole.

 

[Stevie1der]

Not sure if he's being extra pricky for the cameras or if they edited it to make him seem extra dicky, but my god what a fucking asshole.

 
I met him once during a recruiting visit when he was still undecided on college.  He definitely had that guido swagger and bravado thing going.  He also already had huge Popeye arms as a high school senior, so I didn't exactly bat an eye when he got dinged for PEDs.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

I've especially been enjoying the bits of Wilfork they've shown so far, and as others have said Watt doing all that signing is quite magnanimous for the guy.

 

[SawxSince67]

The one undrafted, but established, corner (Charles James) interacting with the rookie undrafted DB was fantastic. Clearly understanding how fortunate AND tenuous his grip is on the NFL, he is telling the kid, STRAIGHT UP THEY WILL CUT YOU...US!!!

DeAndre Hopkins = fop or mere dandy?

 

[ipol]

DeAndre Hopkins = fop or mere dandy?

 
I wasn't aware there was a significant difference between the two. Judging by his want of a man bag holding a yorkie - and your use of the word "mere" - I'm going straight to fop.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Just finished up episode #2 -- great moment not mentioned heretofore:

Mallet tries a head fake while calling signals trying to draw the 49ers offside, but is whistled himself for illegal procedure.

O'Brien bellows: "There's only two quarterbacks in the league that can do that!"

Mallet chuckles: "Hell, I've been watching Brady...shit, he does that every time"

 

[Leather]

"Brady cheats!" -75% of NFL fans watching.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

"Brady cheats!" -75% of NFL fans watching.

 
Yup, already saw it called out on another forum as evidence of Brady cheating.
 
 
(Edit for terrible sentence structure.) 

 

[ipol]

 
Yup, already saw it called out as evidence of Brady cheating on another forum.

 
Yeah, I cringed a bit when I watched it. Honestly, though, every time I've engaged actual human beings face to face in a polite manner about Brady cheating I've been able to make them think about it. Most of the time I can even change their minds. By my best guess, I don't think I've ever met the angry guy on a message board.

 

[Marciano490]

That one CB talking to Romeo about Mallet's draw sounded just like Cleveland from Family Guy.

 

[allstonite]

The one undrafted, but established, corner (Charles James) interacting with the rookie undrafted DB was fantastic. Clearly understanding how fortunate AND tenuous his grip is on the NFL, he is telling the kid, STRAIGHT UP THEY WILL CUT YOU...US!!!

DeAndre Hopkins = fop or mere dandy?

 
That corner was great I'm definitely rooting for him and his socks. But that safety was a moron. I can't imagine he's long for the league. 
 
To echo what others have said, the Texans are my 2nd favorite team. O'Brien is a perfect cross between Belichick and the good parts of Rex Ryan. I loved him talking about how to handle the media and then quizzing the rookies on how to give vanilla answers. I have no doubt Belichick does the same exact thing.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Brian Cushing seems like a great guy who was probably REALLY awesome to the nerds and drama kids.

 

[sachmoney]

https://twitter.com/Ben_Jones88/status/634135429294391297

 

[Phil Plantier]

I wonder how subtle the Hard Knocks producers are. When I see Brian Cushing I think, "there goes the JJ Watt of yesteryear." He was on his way to be the face of the franchise a few years ago, and now he's just some random dick on Hard Knocks.
 

 

[Super Nomario]

I wonder how subtle the Hard Knocks producers are. When I see Brian Cushing I think, "there goes the JJ Watt of yesteryear." He was on his way to be the face of the franchise a few years ago, and now he's just some random dick on Hard Knocks.
 

Cushing had a very nice rookie year. Watt is staking a claim as an all-time great defender.

 

[j-man]

Hard Knocks is silly    
 
 
this show should be a 22-25 show comment instead of 5    
 
that way u get to see the team after all their moods     
 
i would just make the season episodes just 30 min   
 
 
and honestly i would have 10-12 teams in a rotain   
 
 
Cowboys Steelers Packers Pats  giants   the LA teams Bears Broncos Dolphins   browns eagles raiders   and i would say to those if u refuse  u lose your 1st round pick or the refs will be flag-happy against u all season   

 

[Marciano490]

Man, Bill O'Brien is easy to root for. I had no idea about his son. The Texans are definitely my second favorite team.

 

[bankshot1]

I cracked up when Watts did the "baddest fuckers on the planet" pep talk .
 
All that was missing was suiting up in the lettermen jackets.
 
and banging a cheerleader!
 
and his throws into the stands were great

 

[SawxSince67]

I loved the look of the journeyman outside linebacker after he was given the game ball for his pick six against Denver. These guys are easy to root for. Definitely a fan of Bill O'Brien as mentioned above.

Cushing puking up a quart of Gatorade was somehow both disturbing and fascinating. A Jackass moment.

 

[Marciano490]

How many dbol did you count in Cushing's puke? I think I saw 3.