NFL Films and HBO Sports announced this evening that the Oakland Raiders have been selected as the subject for the 2019 season of Hard Knocks, the television series which debuted with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 and is the most-acclaimed sports reality franchise on TV.
"Everybody wants to be a Raider. Now they’ll find out what it takes to become one."
We'll see you in August: https://t.co/dZ1LvS7gRv #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/rTz6AnrCbl
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) June 11, 2019
The show features five episodes per season, with a new team every season. The first episode opens up in training camp, oftentimes with a franchise that is expected to turn around recent woes. The second episode features the preparation and result from Week 1, the third with Week 2, the fourth with Week 3, and the fifth with Week 4 and the final roster cuts.
The Raiders are the obvious choice for this season of the show, as they had a poor 2018 and are bound to have an interesting offseason and preseason. Not only is it Jon Gruden’s second year and Mike Mayock’s first year in Oakland, but the team added a bunch of, well, controversial players this offseason. The biggest move that fits this description is the acquisition and signing of Antonio Brown, the oft-dramatic wide receiver who is sure to be involved in some issues and controversies if he is still the same person he was in Pittsburgh. The team also added linebacker Vontaze Burfict, the one-time rival of Brown who has been known for his over-aggressive playing style that has caused several injuries to opponents.
Besides the players who cause the most drama, the Raiders have a fresh look this offseason after shaking up their roster with the addition of offensive lineman Trent Brown and a brand new wide receiver staff.
Finally, it will be interesting to see the relationship between Gruden, Brown, and quarterback Derek Carr. Gruden and his QB were known last season for often being in the middle of a feud with each other. As for Brown, his relationship with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t appear to be great, so that’s another thing to keep an eye on in Oakland.
There’s a lot of unknowns in Oakland as the season approaches, but one thing is for sure: Hard Knocks this summer is going to be quite entertaining.
Get your popcorn ready, folks.
