Fansided

Power ranking Hard Knocks’ options based on entertainment value

By Mike Phillips

BEREA, OH - JULY 28: A film crew for the HBO show Hard Knocks films a drill during the Cleveland Browns Training Camp on July 28, 2018, at the at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BEREA, OH - JULY 28: A film crew for the HBO show Hard Knocks films a drill during the Cleveland Browns Training Camp on July 28, 2018, at the at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Oakland Raiders

The choice is clear for HBO here, and the NFL will hopefully agree that the Oakland Raiders need to be the choice for Hard Knocks.

To start with, the Raiders already have a reality star on their roster in head coach Jon Gruden, who made a name for himself with his epic banter with draft prospects when he worked with ESPN.

Gruden’s brother Jay, who coaches the Redskins, has recommended that the Raiders be tapped for the show.

One of the show’s best seasons followed the New York Jets in 2010, when Rex Ryan and his quest for snacks made the coach an electric personality, and we could all use more Grudenisms in our lives.

Oakland also has personalities for days, which could lead to all sorts of hilarious hijinks. Start with Antonio Brown, who has fully embraced the AB persona, and how he and Gruden will make life tough for relatively straight-laced quarterback Derek Carr.

You also have the potential of a three way feud between Brown, Vontaze Burfict, and Richie Incognito, who all have fiery personalities and like to be the alpha dogs in the room.

Imagine how much fun we could have if the three of them end up as roommates in camp, trading barbs and zingers at the expense of their teammates.

There is also the looming specter of Oakland’s move to Las Vegas, which could lead them to “host” a preseason game in Canada this summer.

Next. 5 players the Raiders need to be great in 2019. dark

Watching Gruden and the Raiders up in Manitoba for a week could lead to an awesome fish out of water episode, and we as viewers would reap all the rewards.

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