Oakland Raiders on Hard Knocks makes too much sense

In a move that shocked nobody, the Oakland Raiders were made the choice to appear on HBO’s Hard Knocks for the upcoming NFL season.

The Oakland Raiders always appeared to be the logical team to be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks, and on Tuesday, that became a reality. When you take one new GM, three first-round draft picks, a revamped wide receiver corp, exciting secondary battles, three countries, an offensive guard with a bad temper, Derek Carr in comeback mode, Antonio Brown with a visible chip on his shoulder, three countries to play in, four time zones and Jon Gruden, you mix it all together and sprinkle a generous helping of HBO Hard Knocks top for the recipe for ratings success.

Tuesday , June 11, 2019 the announcement was HBO Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders was made. Despite public statements from owner, Mark Davis and head coach, Jon Gruden, Home Box Office (HBO) decided to choose the team with the most eyes on them; a high profile coach, a young quarterback who has had personal success despite the team record and a once top franchise known for three words, “Just Win Baby”.

Since 2003 the Raiders have had their fair share of hard knocks, in Super Bowl XXXVII the Oakland Raiders faced one of history’s greatest defenses in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Oakland Raiders former head coach Jon Gruden who was traded by the late Al Davis for two first round picks, one 2nd round pick and $8 million after the infamous Tuck Rule Game which sent the New England Patriots to face the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI where they won.

Raiders Head Coach, Bill Callahan reportedly changed the entire game plan prior to the Super Bowl and during the game, safety John Lynch was even heard saying “we know every play they are running”.

The Raiders lost 48-21 and after the following season, Bill Callahan was fired.

From the 2003-2004 season after the firing of Bill Callahan, the Oakland Raiders have had 8 coaches including the return of Jon Gruden. Even more exhausting is that the Raiders have only had ONE winning season since the Super Bowl loss in 2003, which was Derek Carr’s MVP campaign in 2016.

Why the Raiders, someone might ask. Why not the Redskins, or the Lions, or the 49ers or even the Bills? This is why: the Oakland Raiders are one of the most polarizing teams in all of sports. People aren’t casual Raiders fans, they either love or hate the Raiders there is no middle ground.

The Raiders have always been the outlaws, renegades, castoffs so who better to feature than a team with names like Jon Gruden, Richie Incognito, Vontaze Burfict, Antionio Brown and Madd Maxx Crosby.

In the past, HBO searched for teams that could fill a season slot for a television show, however this season the Raiders were sourced. A team with a young core ready to turn things around and return to the winning ways that created Al Davis’ “Commitment to Excellence” led by Derek Carr who is the true definition of “Pride and Poise”.

The Raiders didn’t find Hard Knocks, Hard Knocks found the Raiders. Speaking of Derek Carr, all eyes will be on him and new teammate, Antonio Brown this training camp. As Carr enters his 6th year as the Raiders franchise Quarterback he has 340 yards to claim the honors as the Raiders all-time passing leader passing up the late Hall of Famer, Kenny “Snake” Stabler. Carr and Brown have already been working together and have been popping up everywhere from local High School, Las Lomas to Cal University.

The chemistry that Carr and Brown have developed is a carry over from the 2017 Pro Bowl in which Carr and Brown never spent time together on field, but built great chemistry in practice.

In a season where the Raiders play in three separate countries (Canada, USA and London), play a 5 game stretch on the road in early games, have three new first round rookies looking to make a start, a quarterback looking to come back in a major way and Antonio Brown who is here to show the NFL that even at 30 years old Business is certainly BOOMIN’, all while preparing for their impending move to Las Vegas in 2020, the Raiders look to provide fans old and new a glimpse into what training camp with the Oakland Raiders is.

What excites me the most about Hard Knocks is watching the position battles in depth, my eyes are on safety with Erik Harris, Johnathan Abram and Karl Joseph, the cornerback battle with Trayvon Mullen, Darryl Worley and Gareon Conley and the Defensive line battle with Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, Arden Key, Benson Mayowa at end and Pj Hall, Mo Hurst, Johnathan Hankins, Justin “Jelly” Ellis and the return of Eddie Vanderdoes from the IR.

Raiders fans have moaned and groaned about the Raiders being on Hard Knocks, but at the end of the day, we all knew it was inevitable, the team has too many characters, too much history, too much of a future and Mark owes the league WAY too much to not be on Hard Knocks. Raider Nation, buckle up, prepare the tailgate and enjoy because the Raiders are on Hard Knocks this season!

All I know is on August 6th, i know exactly where i’ll be ready to start what could be the greatest season of Hard Knocks ever.