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May 16, 2011 @ 12:29 pm
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Bucs Turn Down Hard Knocks

Written by Scott
Reynolds
Scott Reynolds

Scott
Reynolds

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The Buccaneers were offered the chance to be this season's featured team of NFL Films' Hard Knocks training camp mini-series, but have declined that invitation. The team made the announcement on its Twitter page on Monday.

On May 6, PewterReport.com reported that the Bucs were gaining strong consideration from NFL Films to be the subject of the popular HBO series Hard Knocks, which chronicles a team through training camp. A league source told PewterReport.com that Hard Knocks was "“offered to the Buccaneers and that it is essentially theirs for the taking.”

On Monday, the team officially declined that invitation, saying through its Twitter site: "We have respectfully declined this year's Hard Knocks invitation. Wonderful show, but the team wants to keep the focus on the field in 2011."

Tampa Bay was considered to be the heavy favorites for appearing on Hard Knocks, according to a league source, and turned out to be the preferred choice. The Buccaneers have made no secret of their desire to raise the team’s profile on a local and a national level, and being featured on Hard Knocks would help that cause. The team wholeheartedly agreed to host the Chicago Bears in London for the league’s International Game this year despite hosting the New England Patriots just two years ago during the 2009 season.

But with the Buccaneers still being one of the league's youngest teams, and the team having a string of arrests over the past year ranging from DUI charges levied against essential football staffers, to drug charges involving players, to a felonious assault with a handgun case involving star cornerback Aqib Talib, perhaps Tampa Bay didn't want to be in the spotlight after all.

Last modified on Monday, 16 May 2011 12:43
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COMMENTS

  • avatar


    scoots
    May 20, 2011
    9:39 am
    As a Bucs fan I am disappointed in the decision to not participate in Hard Knocks, as I will have less exposure to our team in pre season, But as a Bucs fan I am happy they are not participating, because the teams new players, coaches, coaching schemes and concepts will not be revealed until game time. Opposing teams can only speculate how to game plan for us, and by not participating in the HBO program, our teams concepts remain unknown. The return of our IR players combined with the influx of draftees will create new capabilities for this years team. This should be an exciting team this year. The return to health for Brian Price, who essentially is in his rookie season but experienced with our playbook will be a lot of fun to watch. I'm drooling with anticipation thinking about the variety we can put on the field with our assortment of DEs and DTs ....ooohhhh baby! This is going to be fun!
  • avatar


    VeeJay24
    May 17, 2011
    2:30 pm
    Funny everyone mentions the Jets and Cowboys but not the Chiefs. Gruden you build up your profile and following by winning 'ships'. Hard Knocks would've been nice; I think Rah is perfect for the platform but this team isn't ready, let them at least get a playoff game under their belts besides I don't think any team will make an appearance the way the labor situation is going.
  • avatar

    TheeGuru
    May 17, 2011
    2:07 pm
    Man, something tells me them cheap Glaizers like flyin under the radar so they don't have to really manage our team properly... Why not take this opportunity? Every team in the league has off the feild issues and all you've heard out of the front office is character talk... well the few bad apples we have should be outshined by the multiple "college team captains" we just drafted and those we have in recent years...
  • avatar


    Dbuc63
    May 17, 2011
    10:25 am
    Scubog, lack of maturity in this case is that a 30(?) year old man didn't get what he wanted so he pouts and demeans the entire Buc organization...I hope this helps you understand the lack of maturity now. You don't however have to agree with it. When I was 12 this is how I was when I didn't get my way! ha!
  • avatar

    jongruden
    May 17, 2011
    11:35 am
    DBUC63- why is stating facts about the fall out of this decision a lack of maturity please explain
  • avatar


    scubog
    May 17, 2011
    5:16 am
    While I would have liked to see our team from such a unique perspective, I certainly respect the final decision to decline. Not sure why jonnyg is being told his comments lack maturity since his views are no less thought out than most. He even stopped picking on JDouble. He's lying about being 12. He's in his 30's, lives in a desert and been a fan since the Lemon Bennett days. That's why I cut him some slack. Ticket sales are up jonnyg.
  • avatar

    jongruden
    May 17, 2011
    10:39 am
    I'm glad tix sales are up which is usually the case when we start winning. The boat and bead wearing fans come out of the wood work when we are good but when we have some tough times then you will see us in our faded bright orange shirt with plenty of elbow room on the 50 yd line. The guy said I was 12 so I gave him what he wanted, JDouble has been reincarnated or something or he found a girlfriend to spend time with and got him off the bar stool, who knows but I like this version better. I am disappointed about hard knocks since I don't live nearby anymore to watch training camp, but oh well.
  • avatar


    compewterpirate
    May 17, 2011
    3:48 am
    Another excellent decision by the Bucs front office. It would have been an unnecessary distraction, for our young team, possibly at the expense of team chemistry. The team needs to focus wholeheartedly on preparing for the upcoming season, without some gimmicky, reality TV, show interfering. Also why give future opponents any insight into your personnel and their psychological make-up or physical condition, especially with so many players rehabbing injuries.
  • avatar

    mjohnson062
    May 16, 2011
    9:17 pm
    The attention would almost certainly have been at the expense of true team chemistry. The Jets and Bengals are largely teams of veterans - they've learned, in general, how to roll with the punches. Cromartie was used last season for fodder, but was largely oblivious (or or just let it slide). We've got a team of kids. Talented, motivated kids, but kids nonetheless. Cameras, interviews - all distracting. Let them build real relationships and and leave the entertainment to those who wish to entertain. The Bengals and Jets improved, but it didn't have anything to do with Hard Knocks. Maybe the series helped build a chemistry and motivate, however.... neither team brought in a Super Bowl, which is the goal. In my opinion, building the team is a personal thing and best for this team to accomplish this in a more intimate setting. The last thing we need is jealousy because the cameras are on Williams more than McCoy or on Foster vs. Ruud. I don't mean to suggest that egos are fragile necessarily.... but they are. The level of maturity required to truly set this silliness aside usually isn't seen until mid-20's.
  • avatar


    chuckbville
    May 16, 2011
    8:46 pm
    With the chance of a shortened training camp, we did not need the distraction.
  • avatar


    Dman
    May 16, 2011
    7:22 pm
    Great decision. This move is another reason to gain confidence in Raheem and Dominick. Great call guys.
  • avatar


    SilenceTheCritics
    May 16, 2011
    4:19 pm
    Im disappointed about the decision but in the long run with a seriously shortened training camp and season (if we have 1 at all) combined with such a young team this could of been disasterous. The timing was just wrong but im sure there will be a future oppertunity for this.
  • avatar


    jopojo
    May 16, 2011
    3:44 pm
    As much as I'd love to watch the Bucs on Hard Knocks, its more important to me to see them continue to improve as a team without distractions that a television crew is sure to offer. If camp time is shortened due to the lockout, every minute of uninterupted training will be that important!
  • avatar

    jongruden
    May 16, 2011
    2:56 pm
    I will be 12 in two weeks . The fact they want to avoid the limelight is a bad move for marketing reasons we have one of the lowest fan bases in the country and Raymond James Stadium is consistently being taken over by opposing teams fans and how many blackouts did we endure last year? By not going on the show which is one of the most highly veiwed programs is a smart move, yeah right. Jets went to the AfC Championship Game and Cincy won their divison that yr so I don't but into this distraction crap.
  • avatar

    Buccaneer Madden
    May 16, 2011
    5:33 pm
    But those teams were not the youngest team in the NFL. The Jets and Bengals (even the Cowboys) were pretty veteran teams who knew how to deal with it better. This is a young team that needs to spend time together working on football not playing to the cmaeras. Had this been the 2002 Bucs I'd say it would be a great idea but not for the 2011 Bucs.
  • avatar


    Horse
    May 16, 2011
    6:54 pm
    Jon Gruden, have to you started puberty yet? It appears you have not. You talk like a child, not a man. I suggest you go shopping in the "mens department".
  • avatar


    devinmosca
    May 16, 2011
    7:14 pm
    perhaps you should go shopping in the mens department for feeling like a "man" for talking down to a 12 year old child like that. the kid posts better things on here then most adults and as a fan he is more than entitled to state his opinion without ridicule just because of age. perhaps you should grow up or better yet use valid points to argue why you disagree with his opinion rather then just taking shots at him.
  • avatar


    Horse
    May 17, 2011
    8:04 am
    devinmosca, he's not 12. That's jongruden humor and i was just responding back.
  • avatar

    jongruden
    May 17, 2011
    10:41 am
    Horse, did you forget to take your daily medication today? Your attacking me because I think turining down hard knocks was a dumb move and your getting personal with your comments time to re-access the motive
  • avatar


    Horse
    May 17, 2011
    2:35 pm
    jongruden, just like you I was using humor. I guess it is okay when you try it, but not me.
  • avatar


    macabee
    May 16, 2011
    2:41 pm
    A Dallas County grand jury will hear the Talib case on Wednesday, May 18th. Now remember, this hearing is not about guilt or innocence, but whether there is enough evidence to return an indictment - whether the accused should be tried in a court of law. There is a saying that "a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich". So there is a higher than likely probability that he will be indicted or have to go to trial. He may have a greater probability of being found not guilty, but it will be a highly publicized news event. So, with everything going on at 1 Buc, It will be very difficult for Rah and Dom to withstand the press and public outcry for them to act now. I wil risk that same backlash, and say I hope they wait until he is judged, but I'm not optomistic!
  • avatar


    JasonOfthetower
    May 16, 2011
    2:26 pm
    I have to admit I'm a little disappointed. It would have fun to see the Buccaneers be featured like that. Still, I completely understand this decision. It's going to be distracting enough trying to get everyone on the same page after the lockout is over. To do it with HBO cameras in your face would be tougher. Maybe they'll offer it to the Bucs again next year.
  • avatar


    Dbuc63
    May 16, 2011
    2:14 pm
    Good, Anyone involved in team sports at least at a collegiate level knows this is a big distraction. This sets up a "superficial" chemistry and does not allow "real" relationships amongst players and coaches especially young impressionable players. Good move Bucs. I can respect people views to be different than mine but JG you really lack maturity and intelligence with your comments..are you 12 years old?
  • avatar

    jongruden
    May 16, 2011
    1:49 pm
    bad decision- if you want to have more national exposure and increase your fan base this would have helped, but oh well welcome to more local black outs and decreased season ticket holders.
  • avatar


    jawaosbucc
    May 16, 2011
    1:44 pm
    I agree with the Bucs. Whenever the current labor dispute is resolved the team will need to focus 100% on preparing the players for the upcoming season. Any distraction from this no matter how small will be too much. Don’t get me wrong, I will love to see the behind the seen interaction and dynamics between the players and coaches. The struggle for the players trying to make the team and the difficult decisions the coaches have to make in selecting the final 53, to me despite all that, the focus on preparation comes first.
  • avatar


    Horse
    May 16, 2011
    1:20 pm
    Thank goodness. Lets stay focus on getting better as a football team and leave Hollywood out of it.
  • avatar


    pinkstob
    May 16, 2011
    1:06 pm
    What a shame. I understand about all the recent negative press with Bucs players and personel and how that would have been brought to light if we had accepted the invitation. It's a shame that the Bucs shot themselves in the foot and missed out on a chance to show everyone how awesome they are as people. I don't even have HBO so I'm not missing out on anything, but I know these are great guys. People that aren't Bucs fans don't really know that.
  • avatar

    bucsnews
    May 16, 2011
    1:00 pm
    It would've been fun to watch, but probably a good decision to decline the offer. There's a good chance a labor agreement won't get done before training camp so it might have been a mute point anyway.
  • avatar

    DEbucsfan
    May 16, 2011
    12:52 pm
    I'm surprised with this. But oh well, would have been cool. When are we going hear about Talib????? Any news on his case or if the bucs have officially said they are gout to release him??
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