Though it's only February, the 2021 NFL season will be here in the blink of an eye. But before we can kick off that much anticipated regular season, all offseason activities will have to be completed.
Including, of course, HBO's Hard Knocks.
Five NFL teams are eligible to be followed around all training camp by HBO's camera crews, and the Dallas Cowboys are looking like the most obvious choice out of the bunch.
CBS Sports ranked the five eligible franchises from least-to-most interesting option, with America's Team slotting in as the top choice.
“I mean, how could it be anyone else? Dallas has appeared twice before on the show, first in 2002 and again in 2008, but “America's Team” is never not interesting. The Cowboys may have been trash for much of the 2020 season, but that makes them all the more entertaining entering 2021, with coach Mike McCarthy under pressure to rebound and a massive QB dilemma on their hands with Dak Prescott set to potentially play a second straight year under the franchise tag. Between the Jones family and the inevitable Dak contract talk and whatever midriff fashion Ezekiel Elliott tries to pull off, they'd be must-see TV.”
Well…they've got a point. The Dallas Cowboys are arguably the NFL's biggest and most popular brand, and regardless of their record or season outlook they mean ratings. That's why they'll continue to be on primetime and “game of the week” every Sunday, even as they slide down the standings with Ben DiNucci starting on a Sunday Night.
This Summer could feature major drama at The Star, primarily around Dak Prescott's potential hold out or contract dispute. Why wouldn't HBO want to try to cash in on this opportunity?
As mentioned, the Cowboys were last on Hard Knocks in 2008, following their promising 13-3 2007 season. Tony Romo was coming into his own, Terrell Owens was a major star, and the team was expected to be a Super Bowl contender.
It didn't work out, but it made for great television. That's what the Cowboys always seem to be lately.
A team that doesn't quite win anything, but they do make for a fun television show.
