Oakland Raiders: Top 5 Reasons Why Raiders Should Be on HBO's Hard Knocks
Hard Knocks is a series on HBO that allows fans to get an inside look at a team's offseason program. It is a great way for fans to get to know the coaches, the players, the staff and how the team operates.
The Tampa Bay Bucs were once said to be the favorite to be featured on the show, and the Oakland Raiders were one of the teams mentioned that could possibly appear on it as well.
But Tampa Bay recently declined the offer from HBO, leaving an opportunity for the Raiders to take it.
I believe this would be a great opportunity for the Raiders, the Raider Nation and NFL fans everywhere.
Here are five reasons why I think the Raiders should be on Hard Knocks.
Al Davis
1 of 5
I am a firm believer that nobody needs the Raiders to be on Hard Knocks more than Al Davis. The 1983 season was the last time his team won the Super Bowl, and 2002 was the last time the Raiders played in a Super Bowl.
Many critics question Davis and his knowledge of the game because of the lack of success the Raiders have had in recent years.
Despite all this, Davis is still a football genius and is still one of the most iconic figures in the NFL today.
When he talks, the world stops spinning and everyone listens. There are many flawed perceptions of what Davis is and what he knows about football.
Those who actually know him and have an opportunity to talk to him know that he still has a great deal of knowledge about the game.
I had an opportunity to speak to Howie Long and he spoke glowingly about Davis and his knowledge of football.
Davis would benefit greatly if his team was on Hard Knocks.
Raiders Image
2 of 5
The Oakland Raiders image has taken a hit in the last 10 years. They were created to be the renegade team that played by their own rules.
They were a tough team that won many games and loved to inflict pain on the opposing teams.
In the last 10 years, the Raiders have been anything but that. No team in NFL history has ever lost more games in consecutive years than the Oakland Raiders did from 2003-2010.
As a matter of fact, the Raiders hold the record for most consecutive 10-loss seasons during that same time period.
The good news for the Raiders is that their future is looking very bright as they are an up-and-coming team with plenty of talent and solid coaching.
The Raiders are trying to build a bully with new coach Hue Jackson. This show would be a great way to start rebuilding the image of a team that no longer has the mystique it used to have.
Coaches
3 of 5
The Raiders have a great coaching staff in place heading into the 2011 season. Many fans were not happy when Tom Cable was fired and Hue Jackson was hired.
I feel that the hiring of Jackson was the best move the Raiders have done all offseason, and possibly the last 10 years. He is a great motivator and is one of the brightest minds in football.
The fans and everyone outside the Raider Nation would have an opportunity to see what Jackson is all about.
The Raiders also have some great assistants on their roster. Former Raider greats like Willie Brown, Rod Woodson, Greg Biekert and Steve Wisniewski are now coaching in Oakland.
Guys like Chuck Bresnahan, Al Saunders and Mike Waufle should provide some great moments on the show.
Not only will this give great insight to the fans, but everyone else around the league will get to see what this Raiders team is all about.
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Players
4 of 5
One of the things we forget as fans is that this is a business for the players. This is how they make a living, and they want to become more marketable.
When you go to an NFL game, you watch the players, but you never get to see their personalities.
In the NBA, the players personalities come out during games. In the NFL, you get flagged or fined 25K if you try and have fun when your team does something great.
The Raiders have a great locker room filled with characters. Guys like Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Jacoby Ford, Mike Mitchell and Tyvon Branch are all funny and love to interact with their fans on Twitter.
Allowing them to be on Hard Knocks will give fans an opportunity to get to know them outside of regular interviews or just a Twitter timeline.
You also get to know the players who aren't superstars, the guys who are trying to make the roster or the new rookies coming in.
The Raider Nation
5 of 5
The Raider Nation isn't just limited to Oakland or the United States. There are Raiders fans all over the world, and this would be great for everyone in the Raider Nation.
The Raiders are a private team that does not let the media into the organization. That is why you rarely see annoying insiders, like Ed Werder, outside their complex reporting on who is not getting along with who and turning football into a daytime drama.
Inviting HBO would give the fans a real inside look at what is happening. This would eliminate some of the untrue reports that come out every offseason about the Raiders. Most fans are forced to hear reports about the team from people who know nothing about the situation.
The Raiders seem like the perfect team for Hard Knocks and they could be the best season ever. Not only would their own fans watch, but so would everyone else around the league.
This would be a great way to showcase the new Raiders and let the world know that the NFL should get ready to be Back in Black.
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