Lights, Camera, Action! Jets Will Star in HBO's 'Hard Knocks'

Gang Green will be featured in the annual documentary series for the first time since 2010

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It may have been the worst kept secret in television history.

The HBO and NFL Films camera crews will be present in Florham Park when Aaron Rodgers and his teammates check in for training camp on July 19.

The New York Jets are, indeed, the featured NFL franchise for this year's installment of HBO's "Hard Knocks" docuseries.

The reported announcement came exactly one week prior to Gang Green's scheduled preseason report date for both rookies and veterans. Although an official press release has not been issued, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed the Jets have been selected for the annual summertime television show that gives fans an inside look at team operations.

With the Green & White being one of four NFL teams that did not qualify for a "Hard Knocks" exemption, speculation that the Rodgers-led Jets would be the choice swirled throughout the spring.

The buzz grew a bit louder when head coach Robert Saleh voiced his desire to avoid participating in the highly-rated cable/streaming series.

"I haven't gotten word [about the participating team] or anything like that," said Saleh on June 9, the final day of OTAs Phase 3. "I know there’s several teams that would love for Hard Knocks to be in their building, but we’re just not one of them."

Numerous reports subsequently claimed that the NFL had already chosen the Jets as the lucky participant, but the league was in the midst of dealing with some push back from the organization.

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Somewhat to the contrary, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport had suggested that members of the Jets' front office were looking forward to the increased exposure and chance to showcase the organization.

"Let's just say there are some higher-ups with the Jets, who, if they were on 'Hard Knocks,' would probably not be very upset by it," said Rapoport on the "Pat McAfee Show" in early June.

Between Rodgers's presence, the arrival of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and the emergence of young charismatic stars like Sauce Gardner, there will be no shortage of storylines for "Hard Knocks" producers to explore.

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