3rd round pick on the practice squad means that he will immediately be taken by some team. Texans are in a tough spot with him...when you take someone that high, it's ridiculous that he may not be good enough to make the team. However, in some sense, you just have to keep him on the team hoping he becomes what he was picked to become. And that sucks, because it means that someone deserving is going to get cut.
Pretty sure HBO has more involvement in the production other than just letting it sit on their network.
Its a joint production... but NFL Films (or the NFL in general) is running the show. When they produced the Jaguars training camp season a couple of years ago (aired on NFL network), it was basically the exact same thing. Its the main reason why its availability on the usual streaming HBO mediums (HBO Go) was limited previously, and why the NFL has virtually total control of the show (from what is aired to which teams must be on it, etc.).
Wasn't Posey on the roster, but inactive for most of last season? I could see them doing the same thing with Strong.
Heres some articles describing all the work NFL Films does for the show... (they actually are doing pretty much all the filming, producing, editing, etc.) http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/races-sports/a-look-behind-the-scenes-of-hbos-hard-knocks-20150806 http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13416034/houston-texans-hard-knocks-hbo-scenes
NFL films is always top notch so its not surprising they're the ones doing the production work. HBO probably has some input, but they're probably pretty hands off.
The OB family and the celebration for their 13 year old son was heartwarming and inspirational. Mad respect for that family
HBO does have a little hand in it. It comes off as a 24/7 special, which I love. Especially with the voice over stuff from liv schreiber
Receivers are pretty well set, IMO, unless they surprise and cut Nate Washington. Hopkins, Shorts, Washington, Mumphery, Strong is the order IMO. EZ likely to practice squad.
I was going to say Liev Schrieber may be the biggest contribution from HBO. When NFL Films did their own training camp thing on NFL Network (jaguars), they used a different narrator... and I know Schrieber does all the 24/7 stuff. Like I said earlier, its a mutual production. HBO would be equivalent to the big movie studio (Paramount, Universal, Warners) that handles distribution, but the show wouldn't happen without NFL films (the production company). The NFL and NFL films could also probably move this to another premium network without dropping much in quality... just like they did with Inside the NFL moving to Showtime.... but for now, it looks to be benefitting both parties greatly as is.
Interesting. I guess HBO gets a lot of undue credit for this. I always lumped this and the 24/7 series, and their sports docs together.
I'd honestly rather have EZ on this team than Strong. strong ain't done schit and EZ has looked amazing. Robbed of that TD in the end zone
Its definitely part of the HBO brand/family... but if the NFL ever decided to part ways with HBO, I'm pretty sure they could still put a show on another network. Versus the alternate scenario... HBO has no chance of getting a show like this together without NFL Films and their access.
In episode 2, I believe EZ made another great face when the rookie haircuts were being excised by BOB.
