Hard Knocks is a reality

Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 sports documentary

Documentary film

Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...

 television

Television

Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 series produced by NFL Films

NFL Films

NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...

 and HBO. The series follows a select National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 team through its training camp

NFL Training Camp

In the National Football League, training camp refers to the time before the season commences. During this time, teams will sometimes congregate at an outside location, usually a university, to conduct training camp for at least the first few weeks. This is similar to baseball's spring...

 and provides an in-depth perspective of the team's preparation for the upcoming season. The series is described as one of the fastest turnaround reality series in television history. The series covers the team's preparations for the upcoming season and provides viewers with team inside jokes and pranks, players' family matters, and position battles. The series especially focuses on rookies' adjustments to the NFL, usually with the team's highest draft selection and an undrafted or journeyman player that looks to make the team.

Baltimore Ravens (2001)

The series with the Ravens covered:

• The team looking to repeat as Super Bowl
  Super Bowl
  The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
  
   winners.
• Rookies Todd Heap
  Todd Heap
  Todd Benjamin Heap is an American football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State-Early years:At Mountain View High School, in Mesa, Arizona,...
  
   and Dwayne Missouri
  Dwayne Missouri
  Dwayne Missouri is a former American football defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Colorado Crush, Philadelphia Soul, and Utah Blaze...
  
  's adjustment to professional football.
• The team's adjustment after a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis
  Jamal Lewis
  Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
  
  .
• The veterans on the team in the final years of their careers (Shannon Sharpe
  Shannon Sharpe
  Shannon Sharpe is a former American Football tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Sharpe is known for his creative commentary and trash talking. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted on August 6, 2011...
  
  , Rod Woodson
  Rod Woodson
  Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
  
  , Qadry Ismail
  Qadry Ismail
  Qadry "The Missile" Ismail is a former National Football League wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and the Indianapolis Colts in a 10 year career that lasted from 1993 to 2002...
  
  , and Tony Siragusa
  Tony Siragusa
  Anthony "Tony" Siragusa , nicknamed "Goose", is a former National Football League defensive tackle who spent twelve seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. He currently works as a sideline analyst for NFL games broadcast on the Fox Network.-Early life:Siragusa attended David...
  
  ).
• The quarterback competition between Elvis Grbac
  Elvis Grbac
  Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
  
   and Randall Cunningham
  Randall Cunningham
  Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
  
  .
• Ozzie Newsome
  Ozzie Newsome
  Ozzie Newsome Jr. and a 1974 graduate of Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama, is a former American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens.-College career:Before his NFL career,...
  
   and Brian Billick
  Brian Billick
  Brian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
  
  's management of the team.

Dallas Cowboys (2002)

The Cowboys' first series covered:

• Quincy Carter
  Quincy Carter
  Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
  
  's pressure to stay the consistent starting quarterback and the acquisition of Chad Hutchinson
  Chad Hutchinson
  Chad Martin Hutchinson is a retired National Football League quarterback and Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and the St. Louis Cardinals of the MLB...
  
   as a backup quarterback.
• Rookie Roy Williams
  Roy Williams (safety)
  Roy Lee Williams is a retired American football safety. He played college football at Oklahoma before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and earned five straight Pro Bowl selections from 2003–2007...
  
  ' adjustment to professional football.
• Emmitt Smith
  Emmitt Smith
  Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
  
   beginning his final season in Dallas and his pursuit to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
• Dave Campo
  Dave Campo
  Dave Campo is an American football coach, a former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and currently secondary coach with the Cowboys.-High school years:...
  
   heading into his third (and eventually, final) season as Dallas' head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs (2007)

The series returned on August 8, 2007 when the series followed the Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

 and their preparations for the 2007 season

2007 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 9-7 record in 2006 and attempting to secure the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berth since 1995. The season ended with a nine game losing streak, the team's first since 1987 and a 4-12 record...

. The series with the Chiefs covered:

• The battle for the starting quarterback
  Quarterback
  Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
  
   job between veteran Damon Huard
  Damon Huard
  Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
  
   and second-year player Brodie Croyle
  Brodie Croyle
  John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
  
   following the trade of Trent Green
  Trent Green
  Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
  
  .
• Star running back
  Running back
  A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
  
   Larry Johnson's contract holdout.
• Priest Holmes
  Priest Holmes
  Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
  
  ' attempted return to football after missing all of 2006 after a career-threatening neck injury.
• The holdout and development of rookie first-round wide receiver
  Wide receiver
  A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
  
   Dwayne Bowe
  Dwayne Bowe
  -2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
  
  .
• Boomer Grigsby
  Boomer Grigsby
  Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18. He missed one game that season with foot injury.Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted from linebacker to fullback...
  
  's switch from linebacker
  Linebacker
  A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
  
   to fullback
  Fullback (American football)
  A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
  
  .
• The development of rookie defensive linemen Tank Tyler
  Tank Tyler
  DeMarcus Lamon "Tank" Tyler is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
   and Turk McBride
  Turk McBride
  Claude Maurice "Turk" McBride is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
  .
• The competition between two undrafted cornerback
  Cornerback
  A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
  
  s - Tyron Brackenridge
  Tyron Brackenridge
  Tyron Lyle Brackenridge is an American football cornerback who is currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
  
   and Dimitri Patterson
  Dimitri Patterson
  Dimitri Jonthiel Patterson is an American football cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
  
  .
• Arena Football League star Bobby Sippio
  Bobby Sippio
  Robert Lee "Bobby" Sippio, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Peoria Pirates in 2002...
  
  's attempt to catch on with an outdoor team.

Dallas Cowboys (2008)

The Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

 were once again chronicled on the television series' fourth season, which premiered on August 6, 2008. The series with the Cowboys covered:

• Adam "Pacman" Jones reinstatement into the NFL.
• Keon Lattimore
  Keon Lattimore
  Keon Lattimore is an American football running back who is currently an NFL free agent and also played for the Trenton Steel in the SIFL. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.Lattimore has also been a member of the...
  
  , younger brother of Ray Lewis competing for a roster spot.
• Todd Lowber
  Todd Lowber
  Todd Lowber is a professional American and Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
  
  , athletic wide receiver who is new to the game of football, trying to make the team.
• Undersized receiver Danny Amendola
  Danny Amendola
  Daniel Amendola is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
  
  , competing for a roster spot.
• Rookies Felix Jones
  Felix Jones
  Felix Jones is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. After playing college football and majoring in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, he was drafted by the Cowboys 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft...
  
   and Martellus Bennett
  Martellus Bennett
  Martellus Demond Bennett is an American football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas A&M.-Early years:...
  
   adjusting to NFL camp for the first time.

Cincinnati Bengals (2009)

The Cincinnati Bengals series premiered on August 12, 2009. Its ratings were higher than any previous season of the HBO series and was a winner of a Sports Emmy. The season covered:

• The battle for the starting FB position between Jeremi Johnson
  Jeremi Johnson
  Jeremi Ray Johnson is currently a free agent American football fullback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
  
  , Chris Pressley
  Chris Pressley
  Chris Pressley is an American professional football player who is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals. He went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft after playing for five years for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers...
  
  , Fui Vakapuna
  Fui Vakapuna
  Fui Vakapuna is an American football fullback who most recently was a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Brigham Young. His attempt to make the Bengals' roster was chronicled on the...
  
  , and J.D. Runnels
  J.D. Runnels
  J. D. Runnels is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  .
• The injuries of tight ends Reggie Kelly
  Reggie Kelly
  Reginald Kuta Kelly is an American football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State.He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals.-College career:Kelly...
  
   and Ben Utecht
  Ben Utecht
  Benjamin Jeffrey Utecht is a former American football tight end who played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Minnesota...
  
   and the adjustment of rookie tight end Chase Coffman
  Chase Coffman
  Chase Coffman is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Missouri.-Early years:Coffman played his high school football at...
  
   to the NFL.
• The contract holdout of the Bengals' first-round draft pick, Andre Smith.
• The battle for the starting strong safety position between veterans Roy Williams
  Roy Williams (safety)
  Roy Lee Williams is a retired American football safety. He played college football at Oklahoma before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and earned five straight Pro Bowl selections from 2003–2007...
  
   and Chinedum Ndukwe
  Chinedum Ndukwe
  Chinedum "Nedu" Ndukwe is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
  .
• Quarterback Carson Palmer
  Carson Palmer
  Carson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
  
   trying to recover from an injury-plagued 2008 season.
• Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco's antics and catchphrases.

New York Jets (2010)

The New York Jets were chronicled in the series' sixth season. An official announcement was made on March 25, 2010. HBO began airing Hard Knocks on August 11, 2010.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets won an Emmy for Outstanding Edited Sports Series in 2010.

• The vocal coaching style of Rex Ryan
  Rex Ryan
  Rex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
  
  , highlighted by several soundbites that became popular after the series ("That's being a jackass!" "Let's go eat a goddamned snack!").
• Cornerback Darrelle Revis
  Darrelle Revis
  Though Revis was not the first defensive back drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft , he was the first cornerback taken that year...
  
  ' contract holdout was an ongoing story.
• The battle for the starting fullback position between veteran Tony Richardson, journeyman Jason Davis
  Jason Davis (American football)
  Jason Sidney Arthur Davis is an American football fullback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
  
   and rookie John Conner
  John Conner (American football)
  John Conner is an American football fullback. He is currently a member of the New York Jets. Conner earned a 2009 College Football All-America Team selection and was one of the best fullback prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft...
  
  .
• Second year quarterback Mark Sanchez
  Mark Sanchez
  Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
  
  's development as face of the franchise.
• Kris Jenkins
  Kris Jenkins
  Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins is a former American football nose tackle who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
  
  ' return after ACL surgery.
• Running back Danny Woodhead
  Danny Woodhead
  Danny Woodhead is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Chadron State....
  
  's attempt to make the team.

2011 Season

At the end of July 2011, NFL Films announced it would not be doing Hard Knocks for the 2011 season. No team wanted to commit to doing the show because of the uncertainty of the labor situation.

External links

• Sabol: Best Hard Knocks Ever by Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, September 9, 2009