Bills on Hard Knocks

[Doc Brown]

3 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Zero upside? I suppose anything short of a Super Bowl victory will be enough for people agreeing with you to say "I told you so."

My guess is with McDermott and many other coaches it's not as much as the distraction but the paranoia that one of these HBO employees could be a hired spy with all the cameras and microphones that come's with this kind of TV production.  Or as the Patriots used to call it, "Kraft productions."  I think it was in 2019 when McDermott confronted some Patriots staffers who were a little bit too much on their side of the field during pregame warmups.  I wouldn't be surprised to see some extra security at the facility this training camp period.

[dcinmuncie]

10 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

The Bills have been a top 2-3 team for the last 6 or so years….why would you think they would be “under the radar”?

i would argue that many pundits counted us out at the beginning of last year in particular.

 

that's kind of what i mean by 'under the radar'

 

[MikePJ76]

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

My guess is with McDermott and many other coaches it's not as much as the distraction but the paranoia that one of these HBO employees could be a hired spy with all the cameras and microphones that come's with this kind of TV production.  Or as the Patriots used to call it, "Kraft productions."  I think it was in 2019 when McDermott confronted some Patriots staffers who were a little bit too much on their side of the field during pregame warmups.  I wouldn't be surprised to see some extra security at the facility this training camp period.

NFL films make the show.  
 

The show is a bad idea all around but not because of rogue employees being spies.

 

the only reason Buffalo did not fight this with everything they have is because it is going to be used as a promotional tool for the new stadium and to help sell psl’s.

[billsfan89]

Looking forward to it, should be fun to see more of the team behind the scenes 

[DrDawkinstein]

12 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

Good post. More importantly, we now have ~24 years of evidence, and being on Hard Knocks appears to correlate with a 99 percent plus rate of stasis/mediocrity/decline. The Bills agreeing to this is flabbergasting to me.

 

This isnt good logic when, for most of those 24 years, playoff teams were allowed to opt out of it. So the show only featured teams that were already bad.

 

Looking back at the handful of playoff teams that did participate doesnt show any drop off or negative affect.

 

I dont expect any here either.

 

Frankly, if a part-time documentary is enough to sandbag the team, we arent that good in the first place. (spoiler: it wont because we are)

[turbo044]

2 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

NFL films make the show.  
 

The show is a bad idea all around but not because of rogue employees being spies.

 

the only reason Buffalo did not fight this with everything they have is because it is going to be used as a promotional tool for the new stadium and to help sell psl’s.

Not sure how this sell PSL's? Also, teams have no leg to stand on if they are chosen to be the chosen team.  They can't argue out of it

[Slippery Rubber Mats]

16 minutes ago, turbo044 said:

Not sure how this sell PSL's? Also, teams have no leg to stand on if they are chosen to be the chosen team.  They can't argue out of it

 

They are going to show off the new digs A LOT. Seeing it, hearing it talked about will get interest up. That's the way it works

[Alphadawg7]

It’s wild watching some of the hysteria going on in this thread.  People either really don’t understand the show, have crazy conspiracy theories/concerns, or just believe in too many jinxes.  
 

Bills winning or not winning the SB this year will literally have zero to do with Hard Knocks being there during training camp.  
 

Some of you seem to forget that cameras and interviews are part of their everyday lives, practices, games, etc.  A little bit xtra coverage in training camp isn’t going to decide the fate of our season lol.

 

Just sit back and be a fan and enjoy the show, it isn’t gonna bite lol

 

GoBills!

Edited 6 hours ago by Alphadawg7

[DrDawkinstein]

31 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

It’s wild watching some of the hysteria going on in this thread.  People either really don’t understand the show, have crazy conspiracy theories/concerns, or just believe in too many jinxes.  
 

Bills winning or not winning the SB this year will literally have zero to do with Hard Knocks being there during training camp.  
 

Some of you seem to forget that cameras and interviews are part of their everyday lives, practices, games, etc.  A little bit xtra coverage in training camp isn’t going to decide the fate of our season lol.

 

Just sit back and be a fan and enjoy the show, it isn’t gonna bite lol

 

GoBills!

 

I cant think of one time over the past 25 years anyone has said "This team had a lot of potential coming into the season, but Hard Knocks really sandbagged them"

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

This isnt good logic when, for most of those 24 years, playoff teams were allowed to opt out of it. So the show only featured teams that were already bad.

 

Looking back at the handful of playoff teams that did participate doesnt show any drop off or negative affect.

 

I dont expect any here either.

 

Frankly, if a part-time documentary is enough to sandbag the team, we arent that good in the first place. (spoiler: it wont because we are)

If you call yourself a Bills fan but aren't superstitious after all these decades, then I hold your Bills fandom in suspicion! 

[strive_for_five_guy]

8 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

If you call yourself a Bills fan but aren't superstitious after all these decades, then I hold your Bills fandom in suspicion! 

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  The Bills being on Hard Knocks has never prevented us from winning it all before, so maybe this is the event that actually changes our fortunes?

[Doc Brown]

4 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

NFL films make the show.  
 

The show is a bad idea all around but not because of rogue employees being spies.

 

the only reason Buffalo did not fight this with everything they have is because it is going to be used as a promotional tool for the new stadium and to help sell psl’s.

Could be. The last three teams (Lions, Jets, Bears) said they didn't want the show but the NFL forced it on them.  I don't see how a coach like McDermott would be any different but who knows.  I do think when you allow strangers into your facility there's always concern (warranted or not) about them getting information meant to be kept private.

[MikePJ76]

2 hours ago, turbo044 said:

Not sure how this sell PSL's? Also, teams have no leg to stand on if they are chosen to be the chosen team.  They can't argue out of it

The end of rich stadium and the giant palace being built across the street will be a storyline.  The Film crew will be with them for the preseason and will no doubt spend some time with the front office in charge of the stadium.  They are going to make it look incredible.   They did similar things in 08 with the cowboys on hard knocks with that being the last season at texas stadium.

 

This is called marketing and when consumers see things on tv they like they want to buy it or be a part of it.  

Edited 4 hours ago by MikePJ76

[Rocky Landing]

I've been working in the motion picture industry in Los Angeles for over 30 years. In that time, have worked on numerous documentaries, and reality TV shows, including a season on Big Brother, and three seasons of Hell's Kitchen, which employed around 65 cameras. And I can tell you that I have zero concern that Hard Knocks will have some negative impact on the Bills' training camp, practices, or development as a team. 

 

Here are some elements of production that I would fully expect:

• Every area of the Bills facility that HK will want to film will be pre-rigged to be as concealed as possible. There will be some lighting, and microphones rigged into the ceilings, but they will be low-profile. They will want 360˚ of access, without any production equipment in any of the shots.
• I would assume there will also be quite a few robotic cameras rigged around the facilities. These are similar to security cameras, but a little larger.
• There will likely be a few pre-lit interview areas. They will be out of the way, and private. 
• Mobile camera crews will be very small-- probably three people, camera, sound, and production assistant. They will go out of their way to be as inconspicuous as possible. They will have low-profile headsets, and receive direction via radio.
• The director, producers, and robotic camera operators, sound engineers, etc., will be in a couple high-tech mobile production trailers, and few people in the Bills organization will ever see them.
• The director, and producers will not engineer, or gin up any drama, or conflict. Even on a conflict-driven show like Hell's Kitchen, the dramas occur organically. Such dramas are nurtured, of course. But that won't happen on Hard Knocks.
• Plot lines on the show will not be scripted. Even on a show like Big Brother, the closest they will come to scripting the show is to ask leading questions, and then ask the contestants to include the question subject in their answers. (example: Q: "How do you feel about Shiela?" A: "I'm angry with Shiela.")

Personally, I can't wait for this show. And if anyone is upset with Hard Knocks being around the Bills, they should probably also be upset over the Embedded series, which, as a much lower-budget production, was probably more visible to the players than Hard Knocks will be.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Rocky Landing

[dave mcbride]

19 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I've been working in the motion picture industry in Los Angeles for over 30 years. In that time, have worked on numerous documentaries, and reality TV shows, including a season on Big Brother, and three seasons of Hell's Kitchen, which employed around 65 cameras. And I can tell you that I have zero concern that Hard Knocks will have some negative impact on the Bills' training camp, practices, or development as a team. 

 

Here are some elements of production that I would fully expect:

• Every area of the Bills facility that HK will want to film will be pre-rigged to be as concealed as possible. There will be some lighting, and microphones rigged into the ceilings, but they will be low-profile. They will want 360˚ of access, without any production equipment in any of the shots.
• I would assume there will also be quite a few robotic cameras rigged around the facilities. These are similar to security cameras, but a little larger.
• There will likely be a few pre-lit interview areas. They will be out of the way, and private. 
• Mobile camera crews will be very small-- probably three people, camera, sound, and production assistant. They will go out of their way to be as inconspicuous as possible. They will have low-profile headsets, and receive direction via radio.
• The director, producers, and robotic camera operators, sound engineers, etc., will be in a couple high-tech mobile production trailers, and few people in the Bills organization will ever see them.
• The director, and producers will not engineer, or gin up any drama, or conflict. Even on a conflict-driven show like Hell's Kitchen, the dramas occur organically. Such dramas are nurtured, of course. But that won't happen on Hard Knocks.
• Plot lines on the show will not be scripted. Even on a show like Big Brother, the closest they will come to scripting the show is to ask leading questions, and then ask the contestants to include the question subject in their answers. (example: Q: "How do you feel about Shiela?" A: "I'm angry with Shiela.")

Personally, I can't wait for this show. And if anyone is upset with Hard Knocks being around the Bills, they should probably also be upset over the Embedded series, which, as a much lower-budget production, was probably more visible to the players than Hard Knocks will be.

 

 

I'm upset for entirely superstitious reasons. 

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, Doc Brown said:

Could be. The last three teams (Lions, Jets, Bears) said they didn't want the show but the NFL forced it on them.  I don't see how a coach like McDermott would be any different but who knows.  I do think when you allow strangers into your facility there's always concern (warranted or not) about them getting information meant to be kept private.

 

The NFL decides which team will be on the show, based on agreed upon criteria (with the owners).  It's not something you can politely decline.

 

At least it's just the off season--the Giants are on (again!) for the new regular season spinoff.

 

I can't wait to see another season of Shoen and Daboll making fools of themselves "behind the scenes" (we already see it live on Sundays).

[Rocky Landing]

8 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

My guess is with McDermott and many other coaches it's not as much as the distraction but the paranoia that one of these HBO employees could be a hired spy with all the cameras and microphones that come's with this kind of TV production.  Or as the Patriots used to call it, "Kraft productions."  I think it was in 2019 when McDermott confronted some Patriots staffers who were a little bit too much on their side of the field during pregame warmups.  I wouldn't be surprised to see some extra security at the facility this training camp period.

It's an interesting conspiracy theory. The list of people who would actually have access to privileged conversations is pretty short, and obscure-- but it's conceivable. There will be hot mics rigged all over the place. First, there would be the director, and a handful of production staff in the tech trailer-- producers, continuity, sound recordist, robotic camera operators. Then there would be the editing staff, including assistant editors tasked with sifting through thousands of hours of footage. Everyone will have signed an NDA.

 

The director, and producers would be non-starters They're well-paid individuals who would not likely be willing to risk their careers, and the HK franchise, and would more than likely report being approached. 

 

The lower level folks-- camera ops, asst. editors, and the like, would be pretty hard to identify, I would imagine. 

 

It would be a daunting endeavor-- even for an organization as dedicated to cheating as the Patriots* were.

[BADOLBILZ]

17 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

The Bills have to approve everything that HBO's allowed to put on all the episodes so it's up to them when it comes to the WR discussion.

 

 

My understanding is that teams have less control over editing of HK than you think.   They have to claim that the information they want edited out creates a competitive disadvantage for them.  

 

And for the people who point to HK training camp edition teams not having great results that season.........up until this season teams that had made the playoffs the prior season had been exempt from HK for a long time.   That had helped the Bills avoid it since they had been to the playoffs 7 of the last 8 seasons.   So you weren't seeing SB contenders in the TC edition.   That's the primary reason why the records weren't good.

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by BADOLBILZ

[Doc Brown]

9 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

My understanding is that teams have less control over editing of HK than you think.   They have to claim that the information they want edited out creates a competitive disadvantage for them.  

 

And for the people who point to HK training camp edition teams not having great results that season.........up until this season teams that had made the playoffs the prior season had been exempt from HK for a long time.   That had helped the Bills avoid it since they had been to the playoffs 7 of the last 8 seasons.   So you weren't seeing SB contenders in the TC edition.   That's the primary reason why the records weren't good.

 

 

 

Which takes away time that McDermott could be using developing his exotic defensive game plan against the Ravens.  I kid.  I posted it earlier but the Hard Knock training camp teams are 9-10-1 in reaching their preseason over/under.  It isn't a distraction. 

[Rocky Landing]

9 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

My understanding is that teams have less control over editing of HK than you think.   They have to claim that the information they want edited out creates a competitive disadvantage for them.  

 

And for the people who point to HK training camp edition teams not having great results that season.........up until this season teams that had made the playoffs the prior season had been exempt from HK for a long time.   That had helped the Bills avoid it since they had been to the playoffs 7 of the last 8 seasons.   So you weren't seeing SB contenders in the TC edition.   That's the primary reason why the records weren't good.

 

 

 

I would think a lot less. The timeline for getting this show to air is pretty phenomenal. Hundreds of hours of footage, and sound to be sifted through, cataloged, organized, and edited. Then the narration has to be written, and recorded. Then the final mix. All in a very short timespan. There may very well be a representative of the Bills present during editing, but the editing process is enormous, involves dozens of people, and has to happen very quickly. Those editors are probably logging 16-hour days to get that show out. Not a lot of time for revisions, or squabbling over content, when the concerned parties have all signed contracts, and are aware the cameras are rolling...