Panthers "a top candidate" for HBO's Hard Knocks

[Mr. Scot]

...according to Dan Hanzus on NFL.com who puts us as the third most likely team behind the Cowboys and the Giants.

Story here: Candidates for this year's Hard Knocks

I've placed the Panthers in the middle of the pack for now, but they could rise all the way to the top based on how the next couple of months play out. Carolina has an intriguing figure at coach in second-year man Matt Rhule and -- like the Giants -- employ a generational running back looking to rebound after a lost season in Christian McCaffrey . We imagine owner David Tepper is eager to show off the plans and construction progress of the team's new billion-dollar headquarters. Then there's the subject of starting quarterback; armed with a top-10 pick, the Panthers could come out of the draft with a college hotshot. They also make sense as a serious suitor for Deshaun Watson  if the Texans actually decide to move their disgruntled franchise star. This is an interesting team with a chance to move into must-see TV status.

Edited February 24, 2021 by Mr. Scot

[jbland]

Yes please

[Mr. Scot]

Jerry Richardson never would have gone for this idea.

I could see David Tepper doing it.

[Daddy_Uncle]

Would be an interesting year for it

[Cary Kollins]

Love it. Great exposure for the franchise and awesome for fans of the team and the sport.

I’m sure Tepper would jump all over it, after Amazon’s All or Nothing and the behind the scenes work the Panthers media already puts out.

[CarolinaSunday]

The teams listed are actually who can be forced to do it without consent, with Dan ranking them by entertainment value. At the bottom, he predicts the Jags will be picked because they've publicly said they want to do it. 

 

[t96]

I know it'd be fun for fans but I don't think it does the team any good. Would prefer it's not us, but whatever if it is.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, CarolinaSunday said:

The teams listed are actually who can be forced to do it without consent, with Dan ranking them by entertainment value. At the bottom, he predicts the Jags will be picked because they've publicly said they want to do it. 

 

Haven't they previously had a rule that said teams with first year coaches or new ownership or something like that wouldn't be used?

[t96]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Haven't they previously had a rule that said teams with first year coaches or new ownership or something like that wouldn't be used?

Teams can be forced to do it by the NFL if they have missed the playoffs the previous 2 years and have a returning head coach. We can be forced to do it even if Tepper is adamantly against it.

 

It's right there in the article you posted:

 

And since Hard Knocks is unstoppable and time is a flat circle, we've reached that period of the football calendar when I share with you which teams are Hard Knocks eligible in 2021. Before we get to it, a quick reminder of how the sausage gets made here. Based on the agreed-upon terms between the clubs and league that went into effect in 2014, teams can avoid mandatory inclusion on Hard Knocks if they fall under any of three exemptions:

1. They have a first-year head coach.
2. They have a playoff berth in the past two seasons.
3. They have appeared on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years.

When you plug those three conditions into the Official Hard Knocks Team Generator, it spits out five possibilities for 2021.

Edited February 24, 2021 by t96

[CarolinaSunday]

Just now, t96 said:

Teams can be forced to do it by the NFL if they have missed the playoffs the previous 2 years and have a returning head coach. We can be forced to do it even if Tepper is adamantly against it.

Also, you can't be forced if you have
have appeared on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years, but that obviously doesn't apply to us.

I feel like it's been a while since we've been in the "could be forced" category.

[philw5289]

Yes Please!!

[t96]

Also this is very click-baity. There is no report that we're actually a top candidate for Hard Knocks. The article is literally only going through the 5 teams that can be forced to do it, which we are 1 of. There are other teams, like the Jags as mentioned at the end of the article, that could still want to do it. The article is just the author's opinions. Nothing suggests we're actually likely for it or a top candidate other than the fact that we're 1 of 5 teams that can be forced to do it. Which we've known all along...

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, t96 said:

Also this is very click-baity. There is no report that we're actually a top candidate for Hard Knocks. The article is literally only going through the 5 teams that can be forced to do it, which we are 1 of. There are other teams, like the Jags as mentioned at the end of the article, that could still want to do it. The article is just the author's opinions. Nothing suggests we're actually likely for it or a top candidate other than the fact that we're 1 of 5 teams that can be forced to do it. Which we've known all along...

The title is actually taken from the headline of the NFL update I got.

[PandaMan]

The All or Nothing series was pretty cool.  The only Hard Knocks I’ve seen was with the Raiders when Antonio Brown froze his feet and I thought it was awesome.  I’d love to see more into the team and how Rhule coaches.