The NFL could potentially make more teams eligible to be chosen to participate in the "Hard Knocks" seriesGETTY IMAGES
The future of HBO's "Hard Knocks" was "quietly discussed" at the most recent NFL owners meeting in May following some of the "difficulty the league had in finding a volunteer team for this summer," according to Albert Breer of SI.com. The Raiders were ultimately picked to appear this year, but the concern is that “Hard Knocks” may be "getting stale after all these years." One potential change would be the "elimination of parameters around who the league can mandate to do" the show. Also, in addition to the training camp series, one idea "mirrored the 'All-Access' series that Showtime has done, where NHL teams have been featured in preparation for the Winter Classic." The NFL concept "would be to give NFL Films access to two teams going into a big game a few times over the course of the season, with the episodes airing later in the year" (SI.com, 6/24).
FOLLOW YOUR HEART: AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Phillip Bupp noted Fox NFL analyst Mark Schlereth has "signed a three-year extension to remain with Fox while noting that he turned down a 'generous offer' to return to ESPN." Schlereth signed his extension "several weeks ago." He has been "paired with Dick Stockton in the two years he has done live NFL games on TV." Schlereth was "amazingly open and candid revealing how he came to his decision" and was "professional in showing his appreciation to ESPN for their offer and interest." In the end, he "wanted to call live NFL games and that’s a benefit that Fox can more easily provide" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 6/22).
COMING SOON: NFL Network's Rich Eisen in a special to NBCSPORTS.com noted a NFL100 series will air on NFL Network TV this fall, including one he hosted that was "taped a couple months ago." People on set during the two-day shoot were "sworn to secrecy," but Eisen wrote, "It’s among the most satisfying projects in which I’ve ever been fortunate to take part. And that includes launching NFL Network, my own daily TV/radio simulcast and the ... ESPN SportsCenter gig" (NBCSPORTS.com, 6/24).
