The New England Patriots are set to be featured on the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks in 2027, which will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the team (and new training facility) throughout training camp.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had a rather straightforward response when asked for his reaction.
“Can’t wait,” he said sarcastically.
Patritos fans, however, aren’t all on the same page as the coach. In the results of the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, 41% of participants hates that the Patriots
will be featured on the series for the first time. A large chunk of participants are unbothered by the decision while just 17% love it.
The comment section shows the split in opinion.
Leoa888
Cmon were better than that. That show is for loser franchises who can’t put a good product on the field. I mean look at who’s been featured over the years. And I don’t care about the fabricated personal lives of these guys. The Internet shows us how they actually are. Or just watch Any Given Sunday. Seems like what that show was designed to counter originally in 2001 anyways before it fizzled out. Just beat the crap out of each other on the field and collect your money.
Mojobag666
As a fan who grew up only seeing away games, being banned from MNF and having the new
” Hometown ” ESPN completely ignore them or at best call them ” The Patsies” ( Well earned btw) I will take any and all access to the ONLY sport I still pay attention to.
Scripted, edited etc….it will still be a view behind the scenes that I have not been privy to in 5 decades of Fandom.
kwizzer
I’ve never seen a “hard knocks”. I probably won’t start now. I’m just hoping they have another good season, really.
Sooner65
1 big distraction all season long. Hate it, but will watch anyway because it’s the Patriots.
bbwasright
Channeling my inner Bill Belichick with my initial reaction to the news, I hated it. Such an insider look is giving away valuable intelligence to every other team in the league. But the more I sat on it and rewatched “Forged in Foxborough”, the better I felt about it. Sure, the HBO crew won’t be the propaganda/marketing machine that made those films. But, it could be a huge opportunity to highlight the new facilities for every player, potential recruit, and every agent to see as a response to years of crappy reviews in the annual player survey. The team needs to be a place players WANT to play again. This could be the opportunity to recreate that, if hey can use it the right way.
All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:
Despite the majority of participants not happy the Patriots will be featured, 59% of voters still plan on watching the team on Hard Knocks.
The decision to feature the Patriots in 2027 comes after Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye helped led the team back to the Super Bowl last season. HBO will hope for another successful season this year to lead into the series, and New England currently holds the sixth highest odds on the FanDuel Sportsbook to win Super Bowl LXI.
