Bucs Could Be Forced to be Subject of Hard Knocks

With their national exposure increasing this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be the feature of HBO’s Hard Knocks series.

Hard Knocks follows an NFL team through training camp, usually featuring the team’s stars, putting cameras in the meeting rooms and giving fans an up close and personal look at the inner operations of a franchise.

The Bucs are one of eight teams that could be compelled to participate. League rules state that if no team volunteers to be the subject of the show they will choose from teams that meet the following criteria (per Pro Football Talk) -

1. The team hasn’t appeared on Hard Knocks in the last decade
2. Hasn’t made the playoffs in the last two years.
3. Doesn’t have a new coach.

The eight teams that fall under this criteria are the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns, the Tennessee Titans, the Indianapolis Colts, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chicago Bears, the New Orleans Saints and the Bucs.

Of course, teams typically don’t volunteer for this type of duty as most coaches see it as a distracion and/or intrusion.

The Bucs, with an up-and-coming team and fiery dynamic young quarterback could be an attractive choice for HBO.

Of course, coach Dirk Koetter has been on Hard Knocks before, as offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons.