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Why the Redskins would be a good fit for HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

The Jay Gruden saga

This would probably be the biggest differentiating factor for putting the ‘Skins on “Hard Knocks” this year. Jay Gruden’s seat is certainly warm (if not, hot), and if the Redskins can’t become a contender in 2019, it’s fair to wonder whether he would be back if the team misses the playoffs or doesn’t show growth.

Because of this underlying tension, this would be an intriguing story for the program. They could choose to focus on Gruden as one of the main characters, as they likely would anyway, but he may be one of the more interesting coach characters that the series has had in recent years.

“Hard Knocks” could sell Gruden as a very good offensive mind who has endured turmoil in Washington from the Kirk Cousins tag situation to the Alex Smith injury and to the injury problems on the team in general. This would showcase the pressure he is under to perform — and that his job might be on the line if the team fails — and that could humanize him for the audience at home.

Also, it’s notable that if Gruden is, indeed, on the hot seat, now would be one of the only times HBO could get the ‘Skins on the show. Per the rules of teams being forced to go on “Hard Knocks,” the Redskins wouldn’t be eligible for the nonvoluntary program in 2020 if they part ways with Gruden. Teams with first-year head coaches are excluded from the list as are teams that have made the playoffs in one of the past two seasons.

So, it seems that no matter what happens, the Redskins are unlikely to be eligible in 2020. And the catalyst for that reasoning is Jay Gruden. So, if the producers of the show want to capitalize on the Redskins now, this might be the only time they could be guaranteed to do that.

Also, just imagine the potential of using the Redskins in ’19 and then moving onto the Raiders in ’20. They could follow up one year of Gruden with another. That has to be on the mind of the show creators, especially with the Raiders’ upcoming move to Vegas.

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