NEW YORK — The Jets organization hasn’t been shy about their thoughts about being featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this season.
Add Aaron Rodgers to the list of players and coaches not happy about the NFL’s decision to force Gang Green to be on the reality TV show.
Hours after the public learned the Jets would be on “Hard Knocks,” Rodgers spoke candidly about the league’s choice.
“One of the only things I like about ‘Hard Knocks’ is the voice of God who narrates it, Liev [Schreiber]. I hope I get to meet him,” Rodgers told KPIX-TV from the American Century (celebrity golf) Championship in Lake Tahoe. “Look, I understand the appeal with us. Obviously, there’s a lot of eyes on me, a lot of eyes on our team, a lot of expectations for our squad.
“They forced it down our throats and we gotta deal with it.”
The Jets were one of four teams who could have been forced to do the show. The other three were the Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears.
Members inside the Jets facility were unhappy about being chosen for “Hard Knocks,” but they knew this was coming. Especially with all the attention being paid to the Jets after acquiring Rodgers.
“There’s a difference between being ready and prepared,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said about the media attention the Jets will likely receive this year. “We’re prepared for everything. Again, we have no control over this, but we have control over what we put on the field for ourselves every day.
“Knock on wood, I’ve been a part of some really, really special football teams in Seattle, San Francisco, so the attention, the external attention should have no bearing on what you do day in and day out and for a lot of guys on our team, it’s probably going be new for them, but they’ve also got to be reminded that they played big-time college football.
“They’ve been in big-time moments and while the circus on the outside is going on, they still have to keep the main thing and that’s putting your best foot forward.”
Fans might ask what the big deal is about having more cameras at training camp. Players and coaches likely don’t want the added attention because they’re creatures of habit.
Players and coaches usually don’t like anything that can disrupt their regular routine, and having “Hard Knocks” there certainly will do that. HBO and NFL Films will ask players for interviews before and after practice. Players and coaches will also have their personal lives detailed during training camp.
After the trade for Rodgers was completed, the Jets had his first press conference with the media in the team auditorium because of the size of the media in attendance.
Throughout OTAs in May and June, the Jets were already under a microscope like never before.
Media outlets that rarely attended Jets practices in the past were in attendance to see Rodgers sling the football around to his teammates. That likely won’t change on Thursday when the Jets begin training camp and HBO and NFL Films will examine the team’s every move.
The last time the Jets were on “Hard Knocks” in 2010, the team made it to the AFC Championship before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That season might have been the best season of “Hard Knocks” as then-coach Rex Ryan produced several memorable quotes. Also featured was Darrelle Revis’ contract holdout and Antonio Cromartie trying to name all of his children.
Being on the show has been a mixed bag regarding regular-season results for teams. Since 2012, only four teams (Bengals, Texans, Rams and Cowboys) made the playoffs the same year they were featured on “Hard Knocks.” This list does not include the Lions, who were on the show last year.
Players and coaches may not enjoy being on “Hard Knocks” with all the added pressure this season, but it’s something the Jets will just have to deal with. The best teams in the league all have to deal with distractions on some level and having a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Rodgers will undoubtedly keep the spotlight on the Jets the entire season.
