Hard Knocks Episode 2: The Thread

[dollars 2 donuts]

 

 

What I always loved about HK was the personal stories and the guys on the fringe fighting to make the team.

 

I love watching my Bills, but they aren't really showing anything at stake...yet.

 

 

[Dr. K]

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

That's a crucial difference, I think, between steady leadership and what I'd call "performative" leadership. A lot of people are attracted to the "throw chairs through windows" leaders, but IMHO that is fool's gold. It may work for a game, or even for a season, but it's not a consistent winning strategy, as anybody who has had such a boss can tell you.

[billsfan89]

I liked it, they started getting into more marginal players on the roster and telling their stories. I also liked seeing McD showing his personality more. The coaches is what I looked forward to seeing most. McD seems like someone whose in command and the players have bought in. The assistant coaches particularly the coordinators appear to be high energy guys.

[JP51]

21 minutes ago, Cheektowaga Chad said:

Admittedly haven't watched hard knocks in years but the bills season seems extremely boring 

 

It all seems to be a lot of fluff, things the bills themselves out out in 3 minute clips on Twitter not hour long highly produced HBO show

Boring is really good... no acrimony, drama, or otherwise foolishness in training camp... that is what I was hoping for a nice safe dramaless show that pictured the team in a close family like togetherness... all good so far... the cook signing removed the major obvious drama opportunity. 

[billsfan89]

6 minutes ago, Dr. K said:

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

That's a crucial difference, I think, between steady leadership and what I'd call "performative" leadership. A lot of people are attracted to the "throw chairs through windows" leaders, but IMHO that is fool's gold. It may work for a game, or even for a season, but it's not a consistent winning strategy, as anybody who has had such a boss can tell you.

 

That's the sign of a coach whose trying to sustain winning and building a culture. it was one of the more interesting parts of the episode.

[SCBills]

For the people who say it’s boring.. I just don’t know what anyone expected when doing this with a perennial contender. 
 

Would it look any different for KC or Baltimore?  Probably not. 
 

Also, there’s only 3 preseason games and 1 cutdown day.   Not exactly a ton of built in drama if the team doesn’t provide any of their own. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

9 minutes ago, Dr. K said:

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

That's a crucial difference, I think, between steady leadership and what I'd call "performative" leadership. A lot of people are attracted to the "throw chairs through windows" leaders, but IMHO that is fool's gold. It may work for a game, or even for a season, but it's not a consistent winning strategy, as anybody who has had such a boss can tell you.

 

McD has had incredible regular season success with this approach, but I wonder if he SHOULD throw a chair through a window for playoff games. 

[Prospector]

I may be in the minority, but we have been drowned in Hamlin stories and articles and specials and commentary... and non of it is actually about how he plays football. It's an amazing journey his life took, but can we please finally stop with it?! We all know what he went through and what he over came and what he does for the community... It's almost like the team keeps him on because they think they owe him for when he died in a Bills uni. In my opinion, this story is passed. A sub par player should not be getting this much attention... ok, rant over

[GoBills808]

2 hours ago, Dr. K said:

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

That's a crucial difference, I think, between steady leadership and what I'd call "performative" leadership. A lot of people are attracted to the "throw chairs through windows" leaders, but IMHO that is fool's gold. It may work for a game, or even for a season, but it's not a consistent winning strategy, as anybody who has had such a boss can tell you.

It only needs to work for a season

 

My favorite part of the episode was McDermott saying 'we're only focusing on 3 things right now' and proceeded to list 4 or 5 

[WotAGuy]

3 hours ago, Dr. K said:

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

McDermott’s anecdote would have been more effective if he used the example of a coach wearing an “I wish it was colder” t-shirt to inspire his team, but the capri pants didn’t jibe and the team lost the game with a 4th quarter collapse. 

[Rockpile233]

7 hours ago, eball said:

 

Not real NFL fans.  I specifically asked some friends that question.  If you love football and have watched HK before, you love all of these shows.

 

What’s amusing to me is how many guys on this board (not you) feel the need to come to this thread to say how much they don’t enjoy the show, and the concerns about Pegula’s “involvement” are hilarious.  Some of the posters on here really just don’t get it.  At all.

 

Ehh I feel like the showrunners are the one’s not really getting the story here with this team. IMO focus should be on the veterans who have been so close about to try again.

 

It’s still a TV show it needs compelling storylines.

[stevewin]

Podcast episode for Ep 2

 

 

Thought the Siciliano portion was more interesting this one vs just a straight rehash the first.  Goes into detail on Ray Davis story - makes one wonder if that is coming in future episode. Went thru Hamler's injury history.  Also made me realize that for Andreesen, for all the screen time dont think they ever talked about him playing at UB and being at a tailgate just a few years ago in a Milano jersey where pics exist 

 

This interview is the director who is from Rochester and is another good one (Fitz interview in first ep was still the best).  Goes into some making the sausage stuff.  One thing thought was interesting was they didn't even find out they were going to the Dion drift stuff until the night before.   Goes into his hometown connection and how it informs/influences him for this series.  Cool story at the end too

Edited August 14 by stevewin

[Steptide]

Finally got around to watching episode 2. It's entertaining, but I almost feel like I'd be more intrigued if it was another team. I love seeing the behind the scenes look, but also feel like I know most of this team like the back of my hand. I'm not complaining though, I will enjoy the spotlight as long as the bills can stay in it 

[RochesterLifer]

7 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

Lots of complaining here.   This program is supposed to reporting the softer side of the sport.  The Bills story is teamwork, family, strong sense of community, pride, the underdog, never give up, etc.  That is what we are getting. 

 

Just remember the days when the Bills were irrelevant, had no star players, and were barely on any the NFL national coverage.   

 

You get one life.  Time tics away.   I am enjoying this.  

 

This is now one of my favorite 2BD posts ever...every word of it. Thanks Bob! 

[Dr Krentist]

 

At 6 mins is interesting. Beane says he doesn't want cuts to happen on camera.

[stevewin]

Saw a couple interesting Hard Knocks things today

 

- McD on Shoop/Bulldog, they asked if there was any time/place to have full privacy and McD said one of the 'parameters' they required was that he would have no cameras in his office and that is where he has his private conversations 

 

- Beane on McAfee mentioned "they listened to things we thought would be invasive or uncomfortable" and specifically mentioned "we do not want to be releasing players on film" which is normally a big staple of the season finale

 

It seems to me that the NFL was especially accommodating to the Bills - assume Josh, the status of the team etc helped them to be able to dictate some terms

 

[Brand J]

18 minutes ago, stevewin said:

Saw a couple interesting Hard Knocks things today

 

- McD on Shoop/Bulldog, they asked if there was any time/place to have full privacy and McD said one of the 'parameters' they required was that he would have no cameras in his office and that is where he has his private conversations 

 

- Beane on McAfee mentioned "they listened to things we thought would be invasive or uncomfortable" and specifically mentioned "we do not want to be releasing players on film" which is normally a big staple of the season finale

 

It seems to me that the NFL was especially accommodating to the Bills - assume Josh, the status of the team etc helped them to be able to dictate some terms

 

Yeah, the Bills are taking the drama away from the cameras. Also remember hearing how Allen shooed the cameras away when they tried to approach Hairston just after his injury. Is this the first Hard Knocks that won’t show players getting released? Maybe the team was hopeful HBO would move off of them when they put these parameters in place, but for our benefit they didn’t walk. 

[Riverboat Ritchie]

14 hours ago, Dr. K said:

I liked the anecdote McDermott told about the coach throwing the chair through the window to motivate the players before the game . . . and then, next week, he had nothing. 

 

That's a crucial difference, I think, between steady leadership and what I'd call "performative" leadership. A lot of people are attracted to the "throw chairs through windows" leaders, but IMHO that is fool's gold. It may work for a game, or even for a season, but it's not a consistent winning strategy, as anybody who has had such a boss can tell you.

I agree with what he said but transition was a bit odd I thought. He’s a good dude and coach but still not sure he can deliver the Lombardi. Who knows though. 

[Chandler#81]

On 8/13/2025 at 4:27 AM, Figster said:

Hopefully the producers got enough of it in one episode. Its history, the team was shell shocked from it.

 

Enough already damn...

I saw a discussion with Scicilliano where they believe enough is enough and there won’t be any more references to it

[Matt_In_NH]

13 hours ago, stevewin said:

Saw a couple interesting Hard Knocks things today

 

- McD on Shoop/Bulldog, they asked if there was any time/place to have full privacy and McD said one of the 'parameters' they required was that he would have no cameras in his office and that is where he has his private conversations 

 

- Beane on McAfee mentioned "they listened to things we thought would be invasive or uncomfortable" and specifically mentioned "we do not want to be releasing players on film" which is normally a big staple of the season finale

 

It seems to me that the NFL was especially accommodating to the Bills - assume Josh, the status of the team etc helped them to be able to dictate some terms

 

I agree with all of this, the Bills are in firm control of what is getting produced.  They even brought in Terry to sit with Beane for filler film...there is nothing interesting about Pegula and Bean watching film.