It’s not prepared for Hollywood but it surely’s tailored for HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
That might be the story of Shedeur Sanders and his surprising uphill climb to be one of many Browns quarterbacks — perhaps even the starter — when the 2025 season begins.
“Hard Knocks” is massive on storytelling and, as issues stand now, there shall be no larger story in NFL coaching camps than the problem Sanders, who tumbled to the 144th decide within the Draft, faces in Cleveland.
There can be some obstacles to clear. Since they’ve appeared within the collection previously eight years, the Browns are at present exempt from the 2025 version of “Hard Knocks.” Coming off an 0-16 season, Cleveland starred within the 2018 “Hard Knocks Training Camp.” Final season, the Browns have been one of many groups in “Hard Knocks: In season with the AFC North.”
But trade sources mentioned if Browns fits wish to do it, or “someone in the league twists their arm,” the Browns might nonetheless seem within the 2025 “Hard Knocks.” The Bengals have been on “Hard Knocks” twice in a four-year interval. The Cowboys have headlined the present thrice.
Naturally, this additionally is determined by if Sanders remains to be on the Browns roster when coaching camp begins in late July. For the aim of this column let’s stipulate he shall be there and the Browns will wish to be on “HK.” One of many fundamental storylines shall be about Sanders and the competitors, consisting of: Kenny Pickett (Steelers 2022 first-round draft decide), Dillon Gabriel (2025 third-round select of Oregon) and Joe Flacco, the 18-year veteran.
The interplay, or lack thereof, between these quarterbacks and Sanders can be fascinatingly chronicled by the NFL Movies/HBO Onerous Knocks crew. So would Sanders’ verbal exchanges with coaches and different Browns gamers.
The outcomes might both assist refute these unnamed sources who believed Sanders’ slide had one thing to do with an “attitude problem” or confirm their claims.
Throughout its over 20-year historical past, the “Hard Knocks” crew has not manufactured storylines. Nonetheless, by way of storytelling and modifying, Sanders’ picture may very well be repositioned and reestablished via the Browns showing on “Hard Knocks.”
This is able to be a optimistic for Sanders and the Browns. Though the faces of their “war room” didn’t look thrilled once they chosen Sanders within the fifth spherical, they might gladly settle for “genius” accolades if he succeeds.
Whereas assorted NFL brainiacs have labeled the Browns group “crazy,” there’s a high quality line between “crazy” and “fearless.” By way of the enterprise aspect, the Browns wish to construct a brand new domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, aiming for it to open by the start of the 2029. Sudden media publicity, the sort “Hard Knocks” can present, can solely be a optimistic for advertising that challenge.
Those that would object to the Browns showing in “Hard Knocks” due to the “distractions” it might trigger for the group aren’t coping with actuality. The presence of Sanders, with or with out “HK,” goes to current a serious distraction. The soccer media shall be there in higher numbers in addition to waves of added social media curiosity seekers.
It’s inevitable: The Browns coaching camp goes to be a circus, with or with out, “Hard Knocks.”
NO MORE REGIONAL ROUND
When the Knicks superior to the Japanese Convention semifinals Thursday evening with a 116-113 win over Detroit, it additionally marked the final time the MSG Community will air the primary spherical of the NBA playoffs.
Shifting ahead, that spherical shall be carried completely by the NBA’s nationwide TV companions. For many years, starting within the late 1970’s, the league allowed regional sports activities networks like MSG to televise the primary spherical on a non-exclusive foundation. Adam Silver, in a transfer so as to add extra worth to the NBA’s nationwide TV/streaming packages, has determined to make spherical one unique to his nationwide broadcast companions starting subsequent season.
For some hoops devotees, simply the considered having to hearken to nationwide voices name their native group’s motion makes their pores and skin crawl. Since veteran Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen additionally calls nationwide video games on ESPN/ABC (he might work a few of the Knicks-Celtics collection) the outcry will possible be muted, except you’ll miss the stylings of analyst Walt (Clyde) Frazier.
WINNING OVER WALT
Frazier’s tone and content material was way more upbeat after the Knicks received Sport 6 Thursday evening towards the Pistons, than it was in Could 1992, when the ‘Bockers eradicated Detroit in Sport 5 of a first-round playoff collection.
The Knicks had simply completed off Detroit 94-87 and the sound of celebration was popping out of the radio sales space. The late Jim Karvellas, the play-by-play man, was verbally waving Knicks pom-poms. Frazier refused to hitch within the celebration.
“This jubilation will end quickly when the Knicks focus on the Bulls [their next playoff opponent] because the Knicks have won nothing,” Frazier mentioned on the air. “The Knicks have confirmed nothing — nothing.
“Come on Walt,” Karvellas mentioned. “Give them credit, Walt.”
Frazier didn’t reply. He stayed quiet. He wound up being publicly chastised by Backyard brass, however wasn’t fired or suspended.
NO MORE QUESTIONS
It’s comforting to listen to Invoice Belichick, and his woman good friend Jordon Hudson, have one thing in frequent. They don’t wish to be questioned. They usually know what sort of questions they don’t like.
But Belichick ought to hope Hudson doesn’t take as a lot an curiosity within the North Carolina playbook as she has in his new tome “The Art of Winning.” That might solely complicate his life additional, particularly if the Tar Heels get off sluggish towards TCU, Charlotte and Richmond.
Simply think about what these postgame dinner chats shall be like?
Or what if Hudson truly decides to sit-in throughout Belichick’s postgame press conferences?
But those that dreaded Belichick morphing right into a extra educating mode as soon as he entered the scholarly setting of Chapel Hill don’t have to stress. Belichick remains to be consumed by two issues: Soccer and …
JJ SHRINKS UNDER FIRE
The concept that ESPN’s “First Take” can be a coaching floor for JJ Redick to deal thoughtfully with powerful questions earlier than he grew to become an NBA coach proved to be inaccurate.
As an alternative of coping with a pregame query in regards to the Lakers lack of substitutions in Sunday’s 116-113 loss to Minnesota, Redick bailed on the festivities, strolling off the rostrum.
Geez, you work these FT questions from Stephen A. Smith, “Mad Dog” Russo, and Molly Qerim have been as powerful because the one which made Redick shrink on Wednesday.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: BARRYN SORRELL
The Texas lineman hung powerful, ready within the NFL Draft inexperienced room till Saturday afternoon when Inexperienced Bay chosen him with the 124th decide. It was the best second of the whole weekend.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MEL KIPER JR.
For actually 41 consecutive hours on ESPN, he harped on Shedeur Sanders being a high 5 prospect, and his top-ranked QB. Kiper refused to confess he might have misfired on a prospect. Guess he’s the one one left who’s infallible.
DOUBLE TALK:
What Tom Thibodeau mentioned: “Coach’s decision.”
What Tom Thibodeau meant to say: “I [expletive deleted] up.”
