The Cleveland Browns are one of a handful of teams that are eligible to be selected for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer, and there are certainly plenty of intriguing storylines surrounding the team. New general manager John Dorsey is crossing his fingers that they aren’t intriguing enough.
In an appearance on ESPN 850 Cleveland Wednesday morning, Dorsey said he has not heard anything about the Browns being featured on “Hard Knocks” and hopes it remains that way.
“I don’t believe we’re on Hard Knocks,” he said, as transcribed by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I don’t think there’s anything good that comes out of Hard Knocks, but we’ll see.”
In order for teams to be exempt from “Hard Knocks,” they have to either have a first-year head coach, have made the playoffs in the previous two seasons, or have appeared on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years. The Browns are one of six teams that meet none of those criteria.
If the NFL does end up choosing the Browns, Dorsey said he will deal with it.
“You know what? They’ll do that, but it’s OK. I’m OK with it,” he said. “I mean, you know what? It is what it is, but I’m OK with it. I can go either way, you guys. I mean, it’s the way football is, and, you know, I’m OK with it either way.”
Most teams don’t want cameras rolling while they’re preparing for the season and making difficult decisions to cut players, and Browns coach Hue Jackson shared some very strong thoughts about “Hard Knocks” a year ago. But with Cleveland coming off a losing season and Baker Mayfield looking to win a starting job as a rookie, it would not be the least bit surprising if the NFL calls upon the Browns to bite the bullet.
