The very presence of Hard Knocks at Jets camp became a story, but Aaron Rodgers doesn’t think the experience has been all that bad.
HBO selected New York for this year’s edition, an obvious choice given the storylines around the team and which organizations were eligible this season. Almost immediately, there were reports of the Jets being miffed that they had to be on the show.
Nevertheless, the Jets welcomed in the camera crews, and now we’ve gotten an inside look at their training camp, with the season debut airing last week.
Rodgers on Tuesday outlined on Boomer & Gio why he was skeptical, before ultimately conceding that it hasn’t been terrible.
“Listen, I think there was an idea for a lot of us, myself included – I honestly hadn’t seen the show in a few years – that it’s just one big distraction after another," Rodgers said. "And I think the fear for a team that has such high expectations is, and with Hard Knocks coming in, is we want our team to be as authentic as possible.
“And I think there was maybe an idea that certain people turn it on for the show over the years at certain times, and I want our guys to be authentically themselves. When we’re a connected group and everybody is pulling the same direction, that’s when you get something done.
“But I will say, this has not been bad at all. To me, it’s been very authentic with our guys and not a distraction at all. Now, I don’t know how much we’re limiting access on certain things that may be more distracting, but I think it’s been great.
"Shannon (Furman, Hard Knocks director) has been incredible to talk to, they’ve been not a hassle at all. They’ve asked for me to be mic’d up a few times and I’ve gladly done it, I think the content has been good, it’s been real, and I’m having a good experience with it.”
The second episode of Hard Knocks airs Tuesday night at 10 p.m.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram