“Hard Knocks” Flashback
July 6th, 2018
Hatched plan to stay off-camera.
Leave it to a Harvard man to figure out a way to stay out of the limelight.
Last year when NFL Films descended upon One Buc Palace to film the HBO reality series “Hard Knocks,” some players wanted no part of it. One was Lavonte David who made it clear he didn’t want to be on-camera. David even became hostile when the subject was brought up. Hostile that is for his easy-going personality.
Another player who wanted to hide in the background was tight end Cam Brate. And while David was prominently featured in one scene last year — what felt like a staged dinner setup — Brate was not. That’s because Brate figured out a way to become toxic to NFL Films producers.
Brate this week appeared on “The Blitz,” co-hosted by Brady Quinn and Brian Custer (not to be confused with George Custer), heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. There, Brate let the cat out of the bag how future players can avoid “Hard Knocks” features.
“I figured out if you wave [at the cameras], they won’t put that on, ever,” Brate said. “So you have to start waving at the cameras.”
Of course, predictably, Brate was asked if “Hard Knocks” was a distraction. Brate scoffed at this notion.
“We were excited about it last year as a team,” Brate said. “We are kind of a smaller market down here in Tampa and [Bucs players thought] it would give America a chance to see some of the personalities we have on the team.
“I really didn’t think it was too invasive. I mean, there are always cameras on while we are playing. I feel like they are always watching anyway. I feel like some of the guys maybe could have hammed it up too much for the cameras. Whatever, that’s their choice. For me, I didn’t see it as a distraction for the majority of the team, no.”
Joe has always maintained this. Each and every move on the practice field is caught by several cameras. There are cameras at every game, including the fraudulent preseason games.
This concept that two or three extra camera crews (the Bucs already have a couple at each practice not counting eyes in the sky for coaching use and NFL monitoring) would so mentally dismantle a professional football team is really a stretch for Joe.
Many Bucs fans will never be convinced otherwise.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:19 am
“This concept that two or three extra camera crews (the Bucs already have a couple at each practice not counting eyes in the sky for coaching use and NFL monitoring) would so mentally dismantle a professional football team is really a stretch for Joe.”
So it was something else that mentally dismantled the 2017 Buc’s? Talent, coaching, leadership, JBF articles?
July 6th, 2018 at 10:26 am
It’s all about ‘context’, Joe.
If you were at the beach, and saw Rachel Watson in a bikini, you’d be fairly excited about it.
If she showed up at your front door in a bikini…
There’s a huge difference between the film-footage that coaches will watch, and film-footage that all of America can watch.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:59 am
I bet that technique would work to get me out of jury duty
July 6th, 2018 at 10:59 am
Finally, an article without some direct or side mention of America’s QB…..oops….I mentioned it. Sorry
July 6th, 2018 at 11:17 am
ROTFLMAO!
July 6th, 2018 at 11:59 am
the show seemed a lot like a hip hop video at times – and was corny…more hardcore was desired from this stick carrier
July 6th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
But at least we got to learn about Winston’s love for cockroaches
July 6th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
a real rabid dog would have rushed up on the camera and grabbed it and smashed it to pieces, and set mofos straight…if i was on the squad that would have been my classic hard knocks moment…wreck shop – shake the foundation of the show and go wild on these corn dogs…sapp woulda got ill for sure…
or if i was mccoy i woulda flipped out in my man-cave and destroyed it like a wild savage on national tv while ranting we better win 10+ games…like a sweatly psycho dogg off a leash – ida dropped some seriously classic footage that would stand the test of time and been memorable, post player retirement – must see video type sh*t that people would look back on foreverrrrr…
baker humping a tree shouldn’t have even been top 10…the players failed at going ballistic…sapp would have pulled a move…
players bopping around to hip hop is nonsense…someone shoulda pulled a superfly snuka move or something….
July 6th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
lol…..
calling @realist…..
this goes against your theory!!!!!…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
#FreeTheAmishRifle
#Harvard2HarvardConnection
#TDs4Dayz
#HotStart
July 6th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
The cameras followed them to their homes….during training….etc. That’s definitely more then the norm. No matter how you slice it, dice it or spin it…..there’s a reason nobody wants Hard Knocks during training camp. To put it simply….its a change from the norm and creates a distraction. The one thing that stood out to me during those shows was Koetter constantly griping about how poorly they were practicing as well as DeSean’s ability to blow by Hargreaves on nearly every go route. IMO….Jackson broke Hargreaves confidence before the season even started.
July 6th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Adam,
Lol! That woulda been the move! Just suddenly go Caveman on ‘em
Sapp woulda managed to get his smiling mug in every shot!
He loved face time, both as a player, and later as a commentator
He was always about the brand
Except to individuals, whom he was a complete ass.
Well, certain types of individuals . . .
July 6th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Basically, what HAWK said.
The physical cameras may not of been a distraction, but the actual show still could’ve been.
July 6th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
‘Mike10 Says:
July 6th, 2018 at 10:59 am
I bet that technique would work to get me out of jury duty’
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Yeah, if you waved your weener around. 😉
July 7th, 2018 at 11:36 am
Nice to see that I apparently missed nothing by not watching.
July 8th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Eh, Brate may speak for himself and a few others but it’s possible that the “distraction” if it existed, was more subconscious not obvious. If your team is getting exclusive national recognition in the form of a tv show, the team’s ego can enlarge when they haven’t accomplished anything yet. Determination for perfection isn’t as high or consistent when a show is celebritizing you for simply existing not for your excellent play. Practices may not be as sharp as usual and mistakes are overlooked as complacency is the root cause. This undisciplined sloppy play carries over into regular season(as the foundation of the year is formed in offseason/training camp) and the team’s record suffers. In a league full of talented players, there’s is a fine line between a great team and a mediocre one. Yes, players and coaches are used to being filmed all the time but Hard Knocks isn’t focused on their prowess of the fundamentals, they are all about drama. JMHO