Dear God NO! (Not bad playoff news, relax)

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Please let them not pick us...

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I thought you needed to miss the playoffs to be eligible?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Yes - reaching the playoffs is no longer a disqualification. No teams have volunteered in last few years, so League gets to choose. Patriots are a likely choice I suspect.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think NE would be an interesting choice, but I don't know that they're the most interesting choice this year.

And just a reminder: "eligible" means that these are the teams the league can force to do the show. The teams that they can't force to do it could still, in theory, choose to do so.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

And just a reminder: "eligible" means that these are the teams the league can force to do the show. The teams that they can't force to do it could still, in theory, choose to do so.

There hasn't been a volunteer in years. I predict they will choose the Pats. Teams do have some flexibility in just how much they cooperate.
Sad that we'll never see a grumpy Belichick vs Hard Knocks episode - that would have made for great TV.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Patriots kind of do their own version…I can see Kraft not minding it

 

[ctpatsfan77]

There hasn't been a volunteer in years. I predict they will choose the Pats. Teams do have some flexibility in just how much they cooperate.
Sad that we'll never see a grumpy Belichick vs Hard Knocks episode - that would have made for great TV.

I don't know that we would have; Belichick had enough trust in NFL Films that he let them tape him for an entire year. . . .

 

[VrabelJr]

Yes - reaching the playoffs is no longer a disqualification. No teams have volunteered in last few years, so League gets to choose. Patriots are a likely choice I suspect.

You think the league would take a hint.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

The Greed is endless.

 

[BobDigital]

They want a team with a star QB, a contender and interesting story lines as well as supporting cast options. The coach matters too.

The Pats would be a good choice, but not much of a story line next year. At worst a super bowl loser trying to repeat. They would probably prefer a team with a bit more room to grow. Bengals might be a more compelling choice.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

I could see them going with the Chiefs.

 

[pazrul72]

They want a team with a star QB, a contender and interesting story lines as well as supporting cast options. The coach matters too.

The Pats would be a good choice, but not much of a story line next year. At worst a super bowl loser trying to repeat. They would probably prefer a team with a bit more room to grow. Bengals might be a more compelling choice.

Or dysfunction and drama to raise views. A team like the Eagles I could see being good TV. I also think the Broncos or Chiefs would be more interesting then us.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

The Greed is endless.

18 game schedule incoming?

 

[n1997y]

Or dysfunction and drama to raise views. A team like the Eagles I could see being good TV. I also think the Broncos or Chiefs would be more interesting then us.

Too bad I don’t remember seeing the Bills on that list.

 

[jmt57]

The last three teams to be on Hard Knocks:

2025: Buffalo Bills
Previous Year: 13-4, lost in AFCCG
Post-Hard Knocks: 12-5, dropped to 2nd in AFCE, lost in AFCDG; Sean McDermott fired

2024: Chicago Bears
Previous Year: 7-10, 4th place
Hard Knocks season: 5-12, Matt Eberflus fired midseason

2023: New York Jets
Previous Year: 7-10, 4th place
Hard Knocks season: 7-10; Robert Saleh would be fired mid-2024

 

[stinkypete]

Yes - reaching the playoffs is no longer a disqualification. No teams have volunteered in last few years, so League gets to choose. Patriots are a likely choice I suspect.

I’d think KC and Philly have to be strong contenders.

 

[Rob0729]

I could see them going with the Chiefs.

Yeah, Mahomes trying to make a comeback is probably the bigger story that the Pats.

 

[Rob0729]

Hard Knocks isn't like it used to be. Teams do not give HBO the access they used to. It isn't as much of a distraction anymore.

 

[mayoclinic]

Patriots kind of do their own version…I can see Kraft not minding it

Forged in HardKnocksborough.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Eagles. That team is a mess. Imagine all the drama!