“Hard Knocks” has never had such a simple decision.
The long series documenting the camp of an NFL team, produced through NFL Films and HBO, will feature, who else?- to the Dallas Cowboys this summer, NFL Films announced Friday.
This will mark the sixteenth iteration of “Hard Knocks” with the Cowboys making their third appearance, the most in the history of the series, not that there was any other option.
(For what it’s worth, there were other features. League regulations exempt groups from appearing in “Hard Knocks” if they have a first-year head coach, have been successful in the playoffs in one of the past two seasons, or have given the impression of on-screen for the past 10 years And yet , we can glimpse the curtain on the New England Patriots next year if they fail to succeed in the playoffs in 2021. Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and New York. Giants. )
Still, while the Cowboys were the only club among this year’s eligible quintet that had already given the “Hard Knocks” impression, there was no chance HBO and the NFL would borrow the Kyler Murray and J. J. Watt, new Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold, taciturn Broncos coach Vic Fangio or Eli Manning clone Daniel Jones in New York.
Not when cameras from NFL Films’ 30-person team can be deployed on “America’s Team” and so many characters who have an affinity for microphones, starting with Dallas owner, a media friend, Jerry Jones. franchise Dak Prescott – the sixth-year quarterback is returning from a compound leg fracture and ankle dislocation suffered last October – a large fan base that expects this team to return to the most sensible NFC East standings and notable adjustments to the lineup and second-year coach Mike McCarthyArray and reach an apparent conclusion.
Not only that, the Cowboys’ summer itinerary will offer wonderful visual diversity, as the organization splits its time between camping in Oxnard, California, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Hall of Fame in Guangzhou, Ohio on Aug. 5, hosting a joint meeting. he trained with the Los Angeles Rams earlier even though it all returned to Texas and resumed arrangements for The Star. La array Jones’ lavish team headquarters in Frisco, Texas, advanced the normal opening game of the season against Tom Brady and protected the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9.
“We are beyond grateful to the Cowboys for opening their doors and allowing HBO and NFL Films to spend the summer with one of the iconic franchises in world sport as they prepare for next season,” said Jonathan Crystal. , vice president of HBO Sports. , in a report.
Preseason action will also welcome the series after all exhibition games were canceled last year, when the Chargers and Los Angeles Rams gave the impression together on “Hard Knocks” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This edition of “Hard Knocks” marks the twentieth anniversary of the documentary series’ debut in 2001, when it introduced the Baltimore Ravens. The series won 18 sports Emmy Awards. (Several cases forced a pause in some years, such as in 2011, when the league and players were returning from a long collective bargaining battle. )
The Cowboys will make their return to “Hard Knocks” on Aug. 10 at 10 p. m. And on HBO.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.