It’s not ready for Hollywood but it’s tailor-made for HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
That would be the story of Shedeur Sanders and his unexpected uphill climb to be one of the Browns quarterbacks — maybe even the starter — when the 2025 season starts.
“Hard Knocks” is big on storytelling and, as things stand now, there will be no bigger story in NFL training camps than the challenge Sanders, who tumbled to the 144th pick in the Draft, faces in Cleveland.
There would be some obstacles to clear. Since they have appeared in the series in the past eight years, the Browns are currently exempt from the 2025 edition of “Hard Knocks.” Coming off an 0-16 season, Cleveland starred in the 2018 “Hard Knocks Training Camp.” Last season, the Browns were one of the teams in “Hard Knocks: In season with the AFC North.”
Yet industry sources said if Browns suits want to do it, or “someone in the league twists their arm,” the Browns could still appear in the 2025 “Hard Knocks.” The Bengals were on “Hard Knocks” twice in a four-year period. The Cowboys have headlined the show three times.
Naturally, this also depends on if Sanders is still on the Browns roster when training camp starts in late July. For the purpose of this column let’s stipulate he will be there and the Browns will want to be on “HK.” One of the main storylines will be about Sanders and the competition, consisting of: Kenny Pickett (Steelers 2022 first-round draft pick), Dillon Gabriel (2025 third-round pick out of Oregon) and Joe Flacco, the 18-year veteran.
The interaction, or lack thereof, between these quarterbacks and Sanders would be fascinatingly chronicled by the NFL Films/HBO Hard Knocks crew. So would Sanders’ verbal exchanges with coaches and other Browns players.
The results could either help refute those unnamed sources who believed Sanders’ slide had something to do with an “attitude problem” or verify their claims.
During its over 20-year history, the “Hard Knocks” crew has not manufactured storylines. Nonetheless, in terms of storytelling and editing, Sanders’ image could be repositioned and reestablished through the Browns appearing on “Hard Knocks.”
This would be a positive for Sanders and the Browns. Although the faces in their “war room” didn’t look thrilled when they selected Sanders in the fifth round, they would gladly accept “genius” accolades if he succeeds.
While assorted NFL brainiacs have labeled the Browns organization “crazy,” there is a fine line between “crazy” and “fearless.” In terms of the business side, the Browns want to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, aiming for it to open by the beginning of the 2029. Unexpected media exposure, the kind “Hard Knocks” can provide, can only be a positive for marketing that project.
Those who would object to the Browns appearing in “Hard Knocks” because of the “distractions” it would cause for the team are not dealing with reality. The presence of Sanders, with or without “HK,” is going to present a major distraction. The football media will be there in greater numbers as well as waves of added social media curiosity seekers.
It’s inevitable: The Browns training camp is going to be a circus, with or without, “Hard Knocks.”
NO MORE REGIONAL ROUND
When the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday night with a 116-113 win over Detroit, it also marked the last time the MSG Network will air the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Moving forward, that round will be carried exclusively by the NBA’s national TV partners. For decades, beginning in the late 1970’s, the league allowed regional sports networks like MSG to televise the first round on a non-exclusive basis. Adam Silver, in a move to add more value to the NBA’s national TV/streaming packages, has decided to make round one exclusive to his national broadcast partners beginning next season.
For some hoops devotees, just the thought of having to listen to national voices call their local team’s action makes their skin crawl. Since veteran Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen also calls national games on ESPN/ABC (he could work some of the Knicks-Celtics series) the outcry will likely be muted, unless you will miss the stylings of analyst Walt (Clyde) Frazier.
In a rare moment of candor, Breen told Newsday he is not an advocate of making the first-round exclusive to the league’s national TV partners. Frazier said the same thing.
WINNING OVER WALT
Frazier’s tone and content was much more upbeat after the Knicks won Game 6 Thursday night against the Pistons, than it was in May 1992, when the ‘Bockers eliminated Detroit in Game 5 of a first-round playoff series.
The Knicks had just finished off Detroit 94-87 and the sound of celebration was coming out of the radio booth. The late Jim Karvellas, the play-by-play man, was verbally waving Knicks pom-poms. Frazier refused to join in the celebration.
“This jubilation will end quickly when the Knicks focus on the Bulls [their next playoff opponent] because the Knicks have won nothing,” Frazier said on the air. “The Knicks have proven nothing — nothing.
“Come on Walt,” Karvellas said. “Give them credit, Walt.”
Frazier did not respond. He stayed quiet. He wound up being publicly chastised by Garden brass, but wasn’t fired or suspended.
NO MORE QUESTIONS
It’s comforting to hear Bill Belichick, and his lady friend Jordon Hudson, have something in common. They don’t like to be questioned. And they know what kind of questions they don’t like.
Yet Belichick should hope Hudson doesn’t take as much an interest in the North Carolina playbook as she has in his new tome “The Art of Winning.” That would only complicate his life further, especially if the Tar Heels get off slow against TCU, Charlotte and Richmond.
Just imagine what those postgame dinner chats will be like?
Or what if Hudson actually decides to sit-in during Belichick’s postgame press conferences?
Yet those who dreaded Belichick morphing into a more teaching mode once he entered the scholarly environment of Chapel Hill don’t have to fret. Belichick is still consumed by two things: Football and …
JJ SHRINKS UNDER FIRE
The idea that ESPN’s “First Take” would be a training ground for JJ Redick to deal thoughtfully with tough questions before he became an NBA coach proved to be erroneous.
Instead of dealing with a pregame question about the Lakers lack of substitutions in Sunday’s 116-113 loss to Minnesota, Redick bailed on the festivities, walking off the podium.
Geez, you figure those FT questions from Stephen A. Smith, “Mad Dog” Russo, and Molly Qerim were as tough as the one that made Redick shrink on Wednesday.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: BARRYN SORRELL
The Texas lineman hung tough, waiting in the NFL Draft green room until Saturday afternoon when Green Bay selected him with the 124th pick. It was the coolest moment of the entire weekend.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MEL KIPER JR.
For literally 41 consecutive hours on ESPN, he harped on Shedeur Sanders being a top five prospect, and his top-ranked QB. Kiper refused to admit he may have misfired on a prospect. Guess he’s the only one left who is infallible.
DOUBLE TALK:
What Tom Thibodeau said: “Coach’s decision.”
What Tom Thibodeau meant to say: “I [expletive deleted] up.”
