Michael Hunt | In My Opinion

'Hard Knocks' not answered by Pack  

Posted: Sept. 17, 2009

Green Bay Because HBO's "Hard Knocks" cameras probe further behind the scenes than a colonoscopy lens, the Green Bay Packers are about the last team you'd expect to star in the documentary.

Not the last, as Al Davis' North Korea-like obsession with guarding secrets no longer interesting will keep the Oakland Raiders out of the rotation for the foreseeable future.

The Packers have the integrity of tradition and such to uphold, but could you really imagine Ted Thompson allowing that sort of access behind the 1265 Lombardi curtain?

Still, HBO asked a couple of years ago. Mike McCarthy said he declined out of concern that the league's youngest team might be a little too candid for the cameras. And the Packers have somehow managed to get no older since. "No disrespect to 'Hard Knocks,' but it's not on my radar screen," McCarthy said.

But the show is topical to the Packers this week because its most recent subject, the Cincinnati Bengals, is on deck. McCarthy had the series taped in case something was competitively usable, but in the end it was just entertainment, however compelling and dramatic.

"It gives guys who aren't the face of the franchise the opportunity to get their personality and character out there," said Aaron Rodgers, a fan when he's not slinging footballs.

Guys like rookie free agent Chris Pressley, for example. Beyond the fact he's an ex-Badger, you lived vicariously and anxiously through a quiet, likable kid as he endured the process of earning a practice-squad job with the Bengals.

And then there is Chad Ochocinco, the self-aggrandizing sort who could monopolize the entire hour. And still . . .

" 'Hard Knocks' exactly shows people the hard work that gets put in before I open my mouth, because I work ridiculously," he said. "The world never gets to see that part . . . I think a lot of people think the NFL is all hoo-rahs. This is a tough business, really serious."

The show also has a humanizing effect. It's hard to demonize or at least depersonalize someone like the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson when seeing him in a workaday context. You also got a sense of what a decent man Bengals coach Marvin Lewis seems to be. Whether any of that takes the edge off Sunday is in the eye of the beholder, but you can appreciate the perspective.

"It's for the fans to see the strains camp puts on you mentally and physically," said B.J. Raji, the Packers' No. 1 pick. "I think they understand the physical part, but I don't think they understand the mental part too well."

Of course, Raji gets it. He saw Cincinnati's No. 1, Andre Smith, go through his contract issues while Raji was doing the same. He saw the Bengals reduce their roster at the same time the Packers were cutting players.

That's the part McCarthy said he would not choose to share with the public. Said Lewis, "Those are the tough times. Unfortunately, waiving players is part of the story they want to tell."

Naturally, you'd want to see the Packers in such a light. But would they want you to see them that exposed?

"I think we're good here," Rodgers smiled.

He did, however, mention teammates he'd like to see unscripted, notably Brady Poppinga.

"That would be great entertainment," Rodgers said.

Now there would be an act worth the cable bill.

"Oh, would I? But Aaron is one of my biggest fans," Poppinga said in one of his made-for-shtick moments. "I think he tries to hype me up. I'm just a regular dude."

Hmmmm . . .