PA Season Ticket Holder
05-25-2003, 06:33 PM
One of our Chicago moles tells us that the Bears considered becoming the next team to go under the HBO microscope in the annual training camp reality series, "Hard Knocks."
The word is that G.M. Jerry Angelo initially wanted to accept the invitation, but that coach Dick Jauron flatly refused.
HBO recently announced that "Hard Knocks" won't return in 2003, apparently because no team would agree to open its doors to the pay-channel's cameras.
Per our mole, Angelo believed it would be a good way to showcase once again a team that, nearly 20 years ago, took the nation by storm on its way to winning Super Bowl XX. It's no secret that the franchise has generally been in a funk since Mike Ditka got run out of town in 1992, and the exposure could help propel the Bears back into the spotlight on a more permanent basis than results from the occasional playoff run.
Speculation also is that Angelo thought that the presence of HBO's cameras would assist the G.M. in his desire to rid the organization of Jauron and offensive coordinator John Shoop.
Our mole also says that Jauron and the coaching staff view Angelo's discussions with HBO as yet another diss in a string of indignities that included the decision to select quarterback Rex Grossman in the first round of last month's draft.
HBO launched its "Hard Knocks" series in 2001, focusing on the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, HBO camped out with the Cowboys. The door is not closed on another edition in 2004.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
The word is that G.M. Jerry Angelo initially wanted to accept the invitation, but that coach Dick Jauron flatly refused.
HBO recently announced that "Hard Knocks" won't return in 2003, apparently because no team would agree to open its doors to the pay-channel's cameras.
Per our mole, Angelo believed it would be a good way to showcase once again a team that, nearly 20 years ago, took the nation by storm on its way to winning Super Bowl XX. It's no secret that the franchise has generally been in a funk since Mike Ditka got run out of town in 1992, and the exposure could help propel the Bears back into the spotlight on a more permanent basis than results from the occasional playoff run.
Speculation also is that Angelo thought that the presence of HBO's cameras would assist the G.M. in his desire to rid the organization of Jauron and offensive coordinator John Shoop.
Our mole also says that Jauron and the coaching staff view Angelo's discussions with HBO as yet another diss in a string of indignities that included the decision to select quarterback Rex Grossman in the first round of last month's draft.
HBO launched its "Hard Knocks" series in 2001, focusing on the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, HBO camped out with the Cowboys. The door is not closed on another edition in 2004.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm