I can’t say this comes as a huge surprise considering the situation we are in with the lockout and missing training camp time, but it still breaks my heart. If Hard Knocks isn’t the best show on TV these days, it is certainly my favorite show at the very least. It’s the kind of thing I look forward to every year, not only because of how riveting it is every week, but because it’s our first real taste of NFL football after several months away from the game. I guess it’s only fitting that in this disaster of an offseason we would lose one of the greatest parts of the offseason, but it’s still a huge bummer.
All I can say is that I hope Hard Knocks is back and better than ever in 2012, because I will eventually get over the lockout costing me this season of the show, but I will never forgive the NFL if the lockout costs me Hard Knocks for good.

In other bad NFL news of the day, apparently the Philadelphia Eagles are interested in bringing in Brett Favre as a backup to Mike Vick. Yeah, I really don’t know what to make of this either. I would be absolutely shocked if Favre played again, but I’d be even more surprised if he did it as a backup. I can’t imagine there’s any chance of this actually happening, but I learned a long time ago to never assume Favre is done.

Personally, I would absolutely love it if the Rams were this year’s Hard Knocks participant. Getting inside the doors and getting to know the players and see the battles for roster spots would be a great way for fans to fall even more in love with this team. The national exposure would be outstanding, and truly introducing the world to Sam Bradford could propel him to stardom. I understand that having a camera crew there at all times can be invasive, but I don’t think it would be enough to affect the team’s preparation heading into the season. There are going to be plenty of position battles, which always makes for good TV, and the personality of a guy like Steven Jackson could carry the show. It doesn’t seem like something this coaching staff would like very much, but as a fan I would rejoice if the team was offered and accepted the spot.