HBO Announces Team Featured on 2018 Docuseries Hard Knocks
The HBO docuseries has chosen the team they will feature during the 2018.
HBO has done a documentary series an NFL team every year since the debut of Hard Knocks back in 2001. HBO has announced that the Cleveland Browns will be the team featured for the 2018 season. The Browns had the number 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft and picked quarterback Baker Mayfeild who will have his own feature on the show. It is also noteworthy that the Browns went 0-16 in the 2017 and 1-15 in 2016.
The criteria for which NFL teams gets chosen to have the documentary follow their team through training camp is very strict. In order for a team to be selected must:
- Not have a new head coach
- Not had a playoff birth in the past 2 seasons
- Not been selected for Hard Knocks in the past 10 years
The last rule is fairly new considering the Cowboys and the Bengals have been featured multiple times throughout the run.
Teams eligible for Hard Knocks in 2018:
- Browns (Chosen)
- 49ers
- Broncos
- Chargers
- Ravens
- Redskins
Teams ineligible because they have a new head coach in 2018:
- Giants
- Colts
- Radiers
- Lions
- Bears
- Cardinals
Teams ineligible because they've made the playoffs in the past 2 seasons:
- Patriots
- Steelers
- Jaguars
- Chiefs
- Titans
- Bills
- Eagles
- Vikings
- Rams
- Saints
- Panthers
- Falcons
- Raiders
- Texans
- Lions
- Seahawks
- Dolphins
- Giants
- Packers
- Cowboys
Teams ineligible because they've been on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years:
- Cowboys (2008)
- Bengals (2009)
- Jets (2010)
- 2011 series cancelled due to NFL lockout
- Dolphins (2012)
- Bengals (2013)
- Falcons (2014)
- Texans (2015)
- Rams (2016)
- Buccaneers (2017)
Training camp starts the last week in July so the docuseries would start the first or second week of August.