Bengals Hope HBO's "Hard Knocks" Series Will Show Fans New Side

Bengals' Five-Week "Hard Knocks" Series Begins Airing On August 12

Bengals Owner Mike Brown "hopes viewers will see a different side" of the team and its players when the latest series of HBO's "Hard Knocks" begins airing on August 12, according to Joe Reedy of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Brown said the team agreed to do the show to "reach out to fans across the country who know us only by reports." Brown: "Now they'll see us close up and that will give us a chance to set the record straight for them. It's a risk, perhaps, but it has a lot of opportunities for us and we're pleased to be involved." Brown added, "I don't fear this at all. I really don't. We're under scrutiny all the time, so we've added a few more people to watch." Bengals WR Chris Henry has had a "litany of off-the-field problems," and Brown said, "If you only knew him by hearsay, you would think he's some kind of ogre. That's not true, he's a good person. When you see him up close, you'll find that you'll like him. ... We have a lot of good guys. If that comes through in this program, that helps out the Cincinnati Bengals." Reedy notes while Brown is "not expected to be one of the main personalities in the five-week series," he said that he "would wear a microphone if NFL Films wanted that" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/29). Brown added, "If it's required, that I play my part, I'll play my part. I'm not going to pretend it I do it. I'm just going to be who I am." However, he also joked, "I'm not going to be a movie star. I'm handsome enough to be one" (BENGALS.com, 7/28). In Dayton, Tom Archdeacon notes Brown "thinks the show will help promote the team and the city of Cincinnati and not ... become 'Bungalized' and turn into a boomerang that circles back and slams them all in the head" (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 7/29).

THE TIME IS RIGHT: In Kentucky, John Clay notes Bengals coach Marvin Lewis had "rejected previous attempts by HBO to have the Bengals participate in the show." However, Lewis now "downplays the tube talk." Lewis: "We're not doing anything differently. After a day or two, you forget they are even around." Lewis was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens when HBO chronicled their training camp in '01 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 7/29).