Sources: Jets Not Interested In "Hard Knocks" Despite Colorful Personnel
NFL Films has "interest in having the Jets" on HBO's "Hard Knocks" later this year, but the feeling "isn’t mutual," according to sources cited by Manish Mehta of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The Jets "might be a perfect fit for the next installment" of the training camp show "given all their colorful personalities." To date, the Jets "have not had any formal discussions with NFL Films." Sources said that NFL Films "kicks off those types of conversations with potential teams in March." NFL Films "typically doesn’t ask teams with new head coaches to be on the show, but the Jets’ motley crew has created a curiosity internally among some of those folks." However, the team is "exempt from appearing on the show due to guidelines set forth by owners six years ago," as they have a first-year coach in Adam Gase and have "appeared on the show in the past 10 years." There are "only five teams that won’t have the right to refuse" to be on the show: the Giants, Redskins, Raiders, 49ers and Lions (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/12).
THROWING OFF THE SCENT: In Detroit, Justin Rogers notes Lions coach Matt Patricia "wants nothing to do with 'Hard Knocks.'" The second-year coach at yesterday's season-ticket holder summit said, "Jon Gruden is an excellent choice for that show. I think the Oakland Raiders and everything they've got going on right now would be fantastic viewing for everybody to watch." The Raiders are a "compelling choice given Gruden's larger-than-life personality, three first-round picks, and the fact the team remains without a home" for '19 before their move to Las Vegas (DETROIT NEWS, 2/12).