On sports media: Vikings again manage to avoid spotlight of HBO's 'Hard Knocks'
Coach Kevin O'Connell's team was eligible for both the training camp and in-season edition of the show but wasn't picked for either. We're guessing he doesn't mind.
The Vikings once again will avoid being featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” during training camp this summer.
The NFL announced it has selected the Buffalo Bills for the five-part show that will run on each Tuesday from Aug. 5 to Sept. 2. “Hard Knocks: In Season” will debut in December and follow the NFC East: Dallas, the New York Giants, Washington and Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
The training camp edition of “Hard Knocks” began in 2001 and ran for two years before taking a four-year hiatus. It returned in 2007.
This will be the first time the Bills have been featured. Buffalo, which is led by Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen has won five consecutive AFC East titles and made six playoff appearances in a row. The Bills lost in the AFC title game last season to Kansas City.
The Bills’ selection was the result of an NFL rule change on which teams could avoid participating on the show. Previously, clubs could decline a request to be featured if they had made the playoffs in either of the past two seasons. That was changed during league meetings in April to expand the list of eligible teams.
The Vikings seemed like an excellent candidate for “Hard Knocks” given all of the moves they made in free agency and the fact that 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will be taking over at quarterback.
It would be fascinating to get an inside look at coach Kevin O’Connell’s work with McCarthy and how the Vikings operate during training camp meetings. There also is star power, beginning with wide receiver Justin Jefferson. An NFL source said the Vikings were not contacted about appearing.