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Houston Texans are favorites for HBO Hard Knocks

By Troy Foster

Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Texans emerge as the favorites for HBO series Hard Knocks

It was reported today by ESPN’s Tania Ganguli, via Twitter, that the Houston Texans have moved from finalist for HBO’s series Hard Knocks, to the favorites.

Hard Knocks started in 2001 on HBO as an unadulterated look into the NFL pre-season work of staff and players alike into preparation for the football season. The show went off-air after the 2002 season, featuring the Dallas Cowboys, and returned in 2007 documenting one chosen team yearly since.

If this comes to fruition for the Texans, it could be a exciting series as position battles tend to be a healthy section of the series, and the quarterback position battle between Ryan Mallet and Brian Hoyer would be interesting to see play out. Watching how Bill O’Brien reacts and chooses favor between the two is going to be at least one episode, if not a running narrative throughout.

The Texans were 9-7 last year and hope to make a push to contend with Indianapolis to win the AFC South. Another point of interest that Hard Knocks tends to delve into is the rehabbing process of players. In 2013 Hard Knocks gave a pretty detailed and in-depth look at how the Cincinnati Bengals rehabbed A.J. Green. I’m sure they will show the precautions that team takes with their first overall draft pick in 2014 Jadeveon Clowney. I speculate the show will dive into just how he is fitting into the team and his after practice rehab this year now being back on the field.

There were a few more teams that were rumored to be the featured team for this season. It was purported earlier in the year that the Bills were one of those teams. This would mark the return of Rex Ryan to the show after he appeared in 2010 with the Jets. These rumors have been attempted to squelched by General Manager Doug Whaley two months ago, but reports have resurfaced again only to be snuffed out shortly thereafter, so we shall see.

The Redskins also have been rumored to be a candidate for doing the Hard Knocks series. This would allow Jay Gruden to return to the show after he was featured in the 2013 season with the Cincinnati Bengals as the Offensive Coordinator.

All of this speculation is made possible by the fact that the show was slated to take place in Cleveland with the Browns, but they withdrew with concerns about publicity surround Johnny Manziel’s offseason rehab.

We will have to see just who gets the green light, but for now it looks to be the Texans lead the way.

Via SI.com

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