HBO "Amazed" By Interest In Jets' "Hard Knocks" Season

HBO has long drawn kudos for its trailblazing “Hard Knocks” series, but this year’s edition featuring the Jets is garnering an unprecedented amount of attention. The show is averaging a double-digit ratings increase so far this season and has made a star out of coach Rex Ryan. An NFL source claims HBO and NFL Films execs are "amazed how visible and top-of-mind the show has become" this season. Part of that is the natural allure of the Jets -- Ryan’s brashness, the drama around Darrelle Revis’ holdout and the draw of the Big Apple. However, the show also offers a unique look at what goes on inside the locker room and the front office that sports fans cannot find anywhere else. ESPN's Marcellus Wiley, a 10-year NFL vet, says “Hard Knocks” gives fans the ability to “realize what really goes on, the full gamut of experiences.”