If there is any locker room that football fans would want to see this season, it’s the Oakland Raiders on Hard Knocks.
The Oakland Raiders (soon to be Las Vegas Raiders) have perhaps the most fascinating collection of players in the past decade. “Mr. Big Chest” Antonio Brown, the bully Richie Incognito, and always-suspended Vontaze Burfict are all under the leadership of former sports personality Jon Gruden.
It’s a Hard Knock Life
In HBO’s yearly television show Hard Knocks, a struggling NFL team is followed by a camera crew and interviewed for multiple weeks. This series allows the average fan to see what it is like in an NFL training camp. In the process, the players with large personalities often become the most loved (or hated) players on the team.
When a team is selected to be on Hard Knocks, some players do not like it. They might find it annoying or distracting, and they would rather focus on improving their game. Others, especially players with large personalities, love the spotlight that it gives them.
Why The Oakland Raiders?
This team is coming off of an extremely disappointing 2018 season. They finished with an abysmal 4-12 record and traded away their two biggest superstars, Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack. With their departure, the team is left without many of its leaders.
After having three first-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft, the team is surging with young talent. To become successful, however, there must be veterans that are willing to teach and lead them. In every season of Hard Knocks, there is a player that steps into that role that surprises fans. It will be especially interesting to see who that person is this year.
Fortunately, The Raiders already have several superstar personalities that will be competing for screen time. Antonio Brown has become one of the most hated players in the NFL after how he handled his dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Brown and Vontaze Burfict also have a years old feud to settle. There is also foul-mouthed offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who has not played football in over a year. Then there is Derek Carr, who seems to be barely holding on to his job as starting quarterback.
Finally, there is Jon Gruden, who became head coach of the Raiders just last year. He gave up his job as a gameday broadcaster in favor of rebuilding one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Raiders have tasked Jon Gruden with building the Raiders from the ground up, and is doing so on a ten year, $100,000,000 contract. Knowing what Gruden has done already for the franchise, there will surely be more surprises this offseason.
