One thing that stood out: The respect Tua commands. How he was dapping up the practice squad guys for getting him game ready, even Crosby in game. Leader.
That and “*** whooping is the world’s one universal language.”

 

Just watched last night's episode. Fantastic inside look at the team.

 

Found that...

 

I enjoyed a deeper look at the team, but it really felt like we only got to know McDaniel, Tua, and Tyreek. Everyone else was just background and that frustrated me a little bit. Hoping we get more of a full picture of Van Ginkel, X, Ramsey, Waddle, etc. instead of just 10 second sound bytes. I mean, we saw 10x more of Tyreek's mom and wife than we did 20+ starting players...that rubbed me the wrong way.

Other thoughts:

- McDaniel is way more of a nerd than I expected but he also cussed a lot more than I expected as well. I think I like him less now (than I did before the episode) but I can't put a finger on why. Maybe they just painted him in a bad light, but I expected to be wow'd and it just wasn't there. He was asked several questions that he couldn't answer- like what's the story behind the cake thing. Not sure why he was sort of stumped there.

- However, I have even more respect for Tua and the way he carries himself. His chats with Crosby were hysterical and he showed that he wasn't intimidated at all. Great teammate (which we already knew) and he seems ready to rumble.

- Tyreek really pumps himself up and takes his job very seriously. Good for him getting some spotlight, but I didn't love his arrogance at times and his mom frustrated me.

- The guy dumping nachos on Tyreek's family was legendary though! Not sure why they ended with that, even less sure why the very end was Tyreek introducing his family to Ross...I think I had completely forgotten about that angry little goblin owning the team.

- Oh, one more thing, I was impressed that it opened with McDaniel basically saying that he was forced to do this by HBO and it's total crap, but he's convinced himself that it was a positive thing. Not a single person in the room agreed with him (I don't think he agreed with it either), but props to HBO for keeping it real. If I was the producer there's no way I'd show the team bummed out about having to do this.

Overall I was disappointed, but I honestly don't know what I was expecting. Hopefully episode two is more engaging, maybe they had a super short production time since we play again this Friday.

 

I think they're going to focus on different players each episode. Tyreek's mom is a nut. My favorite part was McDaniel trying to have a staring contest with Crosby on the sidelines. I have a weird sense of humor and McDaniel's dry sarcasm is my type of humor. But it's definitely not for everyone. I watched it with my wife and 16 year old daughter. I crack up every time McDaniel opens his mouth while the two of them both roll their eyes. The only criticism I have is the cursing. Not that it bothers me at all but it just seems to be theater for the cameras. Maybe that's what really goes on behind the scenes but it just seems to be a little scripted. Hopefully next episode we get to see the recap of an *** whooping on the Jets.

 

Being a retired soldier and leader of troops, the profanity didn’t bother me at all…very Patton-esque. When you want a point to stick, especially amongst so many alpha type personalities, you give it loud and dirty so it sticks. Like others though, I was a bit surprised to hear McDaniel dropping the F-bombs. Just didn’t see him being that way.

I voiced my opposition to this entire Hard Knocks nonsense, believing this was going to be a distraction to the team…which could have contributed to the sloppiness offensively last week against the Raiders.

It was cool to get an inside look at the day to day but I wish it would have been a single episode and it would be done and over with.

 

I loved it.

I think Hard Knocks should be on every team, every season. NFL is the best reality TV show

 

I doubt it was just for the cameras. When you’re in an alpha enriched environment, the F bomb is common.

 

Naw, dude...locker rooms, infantry barracks, police departments, etc... The F bombs is punctuation.

Also in Australia. ;-)

 

Agreed. I'm in the construction industry. Cussing is just part of our conversational vocabulary. I can turn it off when needed but any other time the cussing just flows naturally as part of the conversation. Even the women cuss like sailors.

 

Felt like his cussing was staged.

 

I agree, but it seemed so unnatural with him.

 

What, using the F bomb is lazy?

 

wondering if it is his way of telling Hard Knocks and the NFL F**K you!

 

You wouldn't get along too well in the infantry.

 

That was hard to watch.

 

You're not kidding. I was choking up when Jaelan was crying there on the field. Poor guy.

 

Or the MP Corps…or any other branch of the Army for that matter.

Illiterate, dumb, low class people …who stand guard so others can sleep safely in their beds at night.

 

Y'all are weird.

 

Just finished watching the second episode. I guess I'll be the first one here to admit Philips made me cry. That was sadder than anything I've seen in a long time.

 

Once he started crying I couldn't hold it in.

 

Just the jump from utter shock and disbelief, to what the hell happened, to breaking down when the reality hit him was just brutal to watch.

 

It’s must see TV in our house now. Even my wife and oldest daughter who really don’t care much about football are enjoying the show and looking forward to next episode.
Coach always cusses. Not in press conferences but you see it all the time in videos.
Really hope they give some of the rest of the team some spotlight time.

 

I agree, that was a tough segment. When JP was on the exam table and said when it happened it felt like someone kicked him from behind in the back of his ankle, it made me cringe because it happened to me several years ago and those were my exact words. Brought back terrible memories.
Was at the game and saw it live, I said to my wife - the way he took a step and dropped down he just ruptured his achilles.
Unfortunately, I was right.

I wasn't too keen on the whole Hard Knocks thing in the beginning, but after watching the episodes I definitely changed my mind. The behind the scenes stuff is great.

 

The behind the scenes stuff is great for us fans, just hope it’s not to much of a distraction for the team.

 

Just finished the episode and I kind of dreaded it the whole time since they were focusing on Phillips well before the injury. My heart breaks for him and I wish they didn't show the last 10ish minutes...that's a private thing. However, maybe it works out in the long run after he returns and plays great ball.

 

Not sure how that works out for a DE, but thankfully we have seen this in Wake and I believe he came back fine. So much power and push off from the tendon for a DE

 

If he comes back stronger than ever next year it makes him a lot of money

 

I really like and appreciate the quality of the individual players. Seem like really good people.

 

Looked for and found this after JJ found the first one up above. Not sure how long this will be up, enjoy it while you can!

Edited to add: Agree with everyone else, the injury was tough to watch again. As hard as it was, it's good to see the human side of injuries like this. It's easy as fans to just treat it as how it affects wins / losses on a team, but it's a reminder of how hard it is for a player who has worked so hard to lose the rest of the season and maybe more on one play.

 

One thing nobody talked about yet- McDaniel getting kicked in the shoulder and punched in the nuts on the first play of the game. That whole segment with him explaining how he had to play it cool and act like it didn't hurt....when it really really hurt....that was hysterical! He just stared the dude down, even though he wanted to probably fall over.

 

Su I've never watched Hard Knocks before... I'm loving this series.

Loving to get to see this part of McDaniel, and the team.

 

Dude it was awful.