The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they'll be featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" leading up to the 2017 NFL season.
NFL Films' Mark Dissinger was joined by Peter Nelson of HBO Sports today at the team's facility for the announcement.
Per ESPN,
"I'm sure the fans here in Tampa are really excited, but this an opportunity to get Jameis [Winston], Mike Evans, Gerald McCoy, to get some of those names out to a more national audience," said Dissinger.
Hard Knocks, which is going on it's 12th season, has never featured the Bucs before. Other teams that were being considered for this year's program were the Bears, Browns, Colts, Eagles, Ravens, Saints and Titans.
Dirk Koetter, head coach of the Bucs, had this to say about his team taking part in Hard Knocks, something that not all coaches approve of.
Per ESPN,
"We're not trying to hide anything over here," Koetter said. " I think there [are] some great stories to tell. I think the players have some great causes they're behind outside the building. ... I think that's the thing you try not to do. I think it's corny if guys are faking it. So we'll probably go with the 'no faking it' rule."
"Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers" will debut Tuesday, August 8th at 10 p.m. EST and will feature five episodes culminating the week of the team's regular-season opener.