“We’re smart, we’re relentless. These guys will be a terror in the league.”
-Dan Campbell
“It’s gonna be a blood bath.”
-BigNatty
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Really looking forward to this series! Having never seen one before.
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Neither have I! Gonna be fun. Although 10p on a Tuesday??? I’m in bed by 9 these days… 
I think I can manage to stay up for this
I find it interesting that the Lions decision makers WANTED to be in the spotlight.
Why?
This decision was made with intent. The Lions would only do this if it benefits them in some way. What benefits us?
Cameras bring pressure to perform. The NFL circle of fans/players/coaches will be tuned in watching. Dan wanted the cameras. I think it’s more about putting real world pressure on the players every time they step on the practice field during camp. You either tighten up…or unravel…when the spotlight is put on you. Dan talked about this specifically during one of his recent pressers. You can play great for 3 quarters but it doesn’t matter if you fall apart in the late game pressure situations.
Media exposure for the Lions franchise? Sure…but Hard Knocks is about putting additional pressure on the players. This has Dan Campbell written all over it. This decision was made to make the Lions team better…not to lift our brand or showcase our culture. Sure those are added benefits, but not the motivation behind the decision to be on Hard Knocks.
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10 year exemption from selection. That’s the reason I’d do it, get it out of the way. Not have to worry about being selected every season.
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I agree that they did this with intent, and the pressure to perform in front of the cameras is one thing.
I also think we want to make it known that the culture is changing. And we won’t accept being doormats anymore. I think it may affect that split second impulse to reach into one’s back pocket and toss a yellow piece of cloth on the field. The brain does funny things in those micro-seconds. Being on Hard knocks and watching Dan at work, watching the passion that is beginning to emerge just might affect that split second decision in a positive way.
This ain’t your father’s Lions.
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I agree but I don’t know how thrilled DC was about hard knocks… in the presser today or yesterday he made a comment about how he wasn’t thrilled about it because he likes to keep everything in house, but then went on to say they were professionals and had a job to do and so were they with a job to do… and then said he didn’t even notice the cameras anymore.
So I got a kind of “yeah I guess so let’s just get it out of the way” vibe… although, he could’ve just been saying that too. I think what DC does well is be very transparent but also in his transparency is also able to mask some things he really thinks… he’s always being sincere but hes not gonna just give away state secrets either and I think he does a really good job of walking that line…
So who knows!
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He’s really a master at this, I agree.
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MCDC has been thru this before. Brad Holmes has been thru this before. Josh Reynolds has been thru this before. Jared Goff and Michael Brockers have been thru this…twice. We are in a position where some of the biggest leaders of the team know how to approach this. But at the same time they are uniquely positioned to know how much it can suck.
I think one interesting thing about it all is the youngest players already have experience being in the public eye and having the smallest things broadcast for the world to see. They grew up with social media and what that entails. So while its different for the “older” guys, the young bucks have trained for this. And we have a ton of young bucks.
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Yikes! A dude who is honest but also has appropriate boundaries in places?!
What!!! 
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that’s for sure. do we have anyone over 30 other than Brockers?
OC Ben Johnson is over 30…he recently turned 36. 
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Sounds like Hutch put on a show!!
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Well QueenSlappy is excited to get HBO. Got a feeling I won’t be cancelling when Hard Knocks ends.
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I wonder if he moonwalked… and that’s awesome he did Billie Jean. Michael Jackson is one of the greatest artists ever, can’t wait to see that on hard knocks
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Help, guys! Is this gonna be on HBO Max?
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Assuming it will be, DC kind of alluded to it in the presser this morning
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I believe it’s on hbo 1st, then available on hbo max shortly after initial airing.
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Trailer #2
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