A recent report had the Browns pegged as the front-runner to be the team featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks this summer. Apparently, it was just too good to be true.
At the AFC coaches’ breakfast Tuesday morning in Arizona, coach Mike Pettine said the team met with NFL Films this week and made it known the Browns will not volunteer to be on the show.
“You just weigh everything in,” said Pettine. “Because being a part of Hard Knocks, having been there, knowing they’re going to look to cover the team’s biggest current storylines, it’s obvious that [Johnny Manziel] would be a point of attention.”
But, that’s what would have made it fun, Coach. Johnny Football. The top-to-bottom dysfunction that runs rampant through the organization. Controversial owner Jimmy Haslam. The worst offensive skill position depth chart in the league. It would have been a complete, fun mess.
Oh well. The NFL can still force the Browns to allow the HBO cameras into their facility, but that’s extremely unlikely to happen. After all, people with the Browns are trying to do their jobs, and the NFL isn’t a playground.
The Texans and Redskins, among other teams, would make for interesting teams to fill the Hard Knocks void.
