Hardknocks Episode 4

[MJS]

14 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Yeah but they already stopped all that documentary stuff with the no cuts, no cameras in coaches' offices stuff. This is all fluff and marketing this year.

 

They need to go back to the bad teams next year.

 

Give me full access in the Raiders building. 😆

 

What other last place teams would make for good TV?

The Dolphins might be fun with their wacky coach (if he survives the year) and their sense of urgency to get past the Bills.

 

The Saints, Titans, or Cowboys could be interesting.

[boyst]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Yeah but they already stopped all that documentary stuff with the no cuts, no cameras in coaches' offices stuff. This is all fluff and marketing this year.

 

They need to go back to the bad teams next year.

 

Give me full access in the Raiders building. 😆

 

What other last place teams would make for good TV?

the browns QB room.

[DrDawkinstein]

31 minutes ago, MJS said:

The Dolphins might be fun with their wacky coach (if he survives the year) and their sense of urgency to get past the Bills.

 

The Saints, Titans, or Cowboys could be interesting.

 

It was great TV when the 2012 Dolphins revolted against Philbin. Would be fun to watch it again this year.  

[stevewin]

6 hours ago, MJS said:

That's how hard knocks gets its compelling and emotional footage. They try to follow guys who are going to get cut because you are supposed to feel bad for them when they get cut or super happy for them if they make the team against all odds.

That's a big reason why it is boring. The Bills are a well run organization that prioritizes high character, hard-working players, and that really limits any drama. The dysfunctional organizations are a lot more interesting to watch. Everybody loves a good dumpster fire.

I agree with everything you are saying.  It's hard though to watch the Beyond the Blue and Red videos and not wish they had incorporated more of some of the amazing personal stories available to them vs their over-reliance on the fringe player will-he-or -won't-he narratives.  Give me just a few minutes of Ray Davis amazing story over Zach Davidson riding his bike any day 

[BritBill]

On 8/27/2025 at 8:39 PM, stevewin said:

In his defence, his dialogue added some colour and flavour to the programme

Better. 

[GunnerBill]

Objectively the dullest season of Hard Knocks ever. And I knew they were not filming cuts, that was already out there per Beane but the ending was kind of abrupt as a result. 

 

That said I suspect this was just how the Bills wanted it. And for good reason.

[RoscoeParrish]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Objectively the dullest season of Hard Knocks ever. And I knew they were not filming cuts, that was already out there per Beane but the ending was kind of abrupt as a result. 

 

That said I suspect this was just how the Bills wanted it. And for good reason.

There’s another ep

[GunnerBill]

6 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

There’s another ep

 

Ha! Thanks. I thought that was it for some reason. Still the dullest one I've watched. And they have generally been getting duller in recent years.

[Sojourner]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Ha! Thanks. I thought that was it for some reason. Still the dullest one I've watched. And they have generally been getting duller in recent years.

So what’s your feeling on that? The premise is running its course/getting stale? Or there’s just a lack of characters to be presented?

[RoscoeParrish]

36 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

So what’s your feeling on that? The premise is running its course/getting stale? Or there’s just a lack of characters to be presented?

Honestly I think it’s because teams do everything they can to cut down access to protect their brands.

 

The NYG offseason Hard Knocks was the most interesting in a few years at least, and it got made fun of so much on social media that it will never come back.

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, Sojourner said:

So what’s your feeling on that? The premise is running its course/getting stale? Or there’s just a lack of characters to be presented?

 

Yea teams have worked out the format and manage themselves and it so carefully. I don't blame teams for that, it's just a reality. In the past even on the face of it not very interesting teams made for interesting Hard Knocks - I remember the Texans one where Hoyer and Mallet were battling for the job for example. Now I just think the teams all have their own in house mini-series - like the Bills have with Embedded - and they are used to how you put it together in a flattering way. I think it's hard for HBO to get to the interesting stuff.

[DrDawkinstein]

12 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Objectively the dullest season of Hard Knocks ever. And I knew they were not filming cuts, that was already out there per Beane but the ending was kind of abrupt as a result. 

 

That said I suspect this was just how the Bills wanted it. And for good reason.

 

10 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

There’s another ep

 

3 hours ago, Sojourner said:

So what’s your feeling on that? The premise is running its course/getting stale? Or there’s just a lack of characters to be presented?

 

Hard Knocks can really redeem itself next episode if they show the scene of Poyer breaking the news to Rachel Bush that they're going back to Buffalo. And then another scene later on when she realizes he'll be making Practice Squad money.

[stevewin]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Hard Knocks can really redeem itself next episode if they show the scene of Poyer breaking the news to Rachel Bush that they're going back to Buffalo. And then another scene later on when she ...

Have to say my mind went in a different direction here 😛

[GunnerBill]

12 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

 

Hard Knocks can really redeem itself next episode if they show the scene of Poyer breaking the news to Rachel Bush that they're going back to Buffalo. And then another scene later on when she realizes he'll be making Practice Squad money.

 

There is a scene of Jordan Poyer and Rachel Bush that could win me over. For sure. I'm not sure it is them discussing contract details though......... 😚

[DrDawkinstein]

4 minutes ago, stevewin said:

Have to say my mind went in a different direction here 😛

 

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

There is a scene of Jordan Poyer and Rachel Bush that could win me over. For sure. I'm not sure it is them discussing contract details though......... 😚

 

If you guys are that hard up, let me tell you a little secret about the internet...

[Logic]

4 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

If you guys are that hard up, let me tell you a little secret about the internet...

The people on those sites don't usually have Poyer's steely baby blues or Rachel's....winning personality.

They do tend to have terrific stamina and exemplary breath control, though.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

I’ve been loving these episodes honestly, but I was always a sucker for team propaganda too, so…🤔

 

Also, friends of mine who aren’t Bills fans but watched anyway have given positive feedback on the show and one of them even commented that they wished the show would extend through the season. 🤷

[Since1981]

Yeah. Non fan feedback is good to hear. For me, I liked it.

 

BUT as a non fan—-boring and I’m not learning anything. 

[Since1981]

 

Hard Knocks needs to get back to spotlighting the disaster teams: losing records, clueless management, and train-wreck PR departments. That is BUF ~10 yrs ago

 

[boyst]

40 minutes ago, Since1981 said:

 

Hard Knocks needs to get back to spotlighting the disaster teams: losing records, clueless management, and train-wreck PR departments. That is BUF ~10 yrs ago

 

Could you imagine an episode after McDermott and Co. Put in Peterman over Taylor? The halftime locker room would have been the best few minutes to exist on TV.