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Coming off a historic, dismal 0-16 season, the Browns have been chosen to appear on HBO’s popular ”Hard Knocks” series that gives NFL fans a behind-the-scenes look at training camp.
The Browns have turned down previous opportunities to be on the award-winning series. But with renewed optimism around Cleveland following the recent draft, and the selection of quarterback Baker Mayfield, the team is granting HBO unlimited access to its upcoming camp.
Cleveland is the 13th franchise to participate in ”Hard Knocks,” which began in 2001 with the Baltimore Ravens. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were featured last summer.
Although they’ve won only one game the past two seasons under coach Hue Jackson, the Browns see the show as a possibility to highlight some of their younger players and put a positive spin on their rebuild.
And for HBO, Mayfield’s quest to win the starting job is just one of several juicy story lines.
”NFL Films has always been exceptional at bringing fans closer to the game and they do an outstanding job with every show they produce, including HBO’s Hard Knocks,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. ”We have been asked multiple times about being featured on Hard Knocks, and we really felt like it was our turn this year and the timing was right. We want to be great partners in this league, and we also recognize Hard Knocks gives fans a special opportunity to learn more about our team and players.”
HBO’s cameras are certain to focus on Mayfield Kyle Fuller Jersey , the brash Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma the Browns chose over other quarterbacks. Mayfield is expected to back up Tyrod Taylor this season, but their competition could make for the kind compelling TV that has made the series a must-watch for football junkies.
A 30-person film crew will be at the team’s training facility in Berea to record more than 2,000 hours of footage for the five-segment series that will debut Aug. 7.
The Browns have some good young players who are not well known outside Cleveland. But ”Hard Knocks” will give national exposure to budding stars like defensive end Myles Garrett, Mayfield and safety Jabrill Peppers and give the network a chance to tell the well-documented story of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has missed most of the past three seasons because of drug suspensions.
Mayfield has experience in front of the cameras. He was recently featured in a recent documentary series as he prepared for the draft, and feels the Browns can make ”Hard Knocks” a positive experience.
”For me looking at it, and us as a team, I’d say it can be good if you handle it right. I’ll just say that,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. ”If you think about it as a way to get on camera and try to show off and do certain things and handle it the wrong way then that can be very negative, it can be a distraction. But if you use it as a sense of, `OK, I got to block out everything else and just focus on playing ball Tom Jackson Jersey ,’ then that can be a great thing for us.”
Jackson and Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams have both been on ”Hard Knocks” – Jackson with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013 and Williams with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.
”Being able to bring our fans in so they can get to know our players and our organization in a different way will be a huge positive for us,” Jackson said. ”I want people to see how much our players and coaches care, how hard they work and how badly they want to win for Cleveland. This will be a great opportunity for our team.”
Browns general manager John Dorsey had reservations about the series, but feels the team is equipped to handle the added scrutiny.
”Once we sat down and talked about it as an organization, I feel a lot better and understand why the time is right,” said Dorsey, who has been overhauling the team since being hired in December. ”Hue and I both feel like this team is in a good place and that we are in the process of building something that will lead to success.”
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Something about the big moments brings out the best in Mitch Haniger.
His two-run home run in the ninth on Wednesday, after a stellar defensive play in the top of the inning, gave the Seattle Mariners an 8-6 victory and sweep of the three-game series over the Los Angeles Angels.
”We have such a powerful lineup,” Haniger said. ”On any given night it can be somebody else and that’s kind of the vibe. There’s no panic.”
Haniger, who has 16 home runs this season and 52 RBIs, has an MLB-best 11 game-winning hits – including his second game-ending homer on Wednesday.
After Jean Segura singled to center off reliever Oliver Drake (0-1) Jacob McQuaide Jersey , Haniger sent a pitch over the left-field wall off to end it.
Nelson Cruz and Ryon Healy also homered for Seattle, and Healy’s upper-deck shot in the eighth inning tied the game at 6-6. Cruz hit a two-run homer in the second inning, his fourth in his last five games and 16th of the season.
The home run by Haniger, who was 2-for-5 and scored two runs, was his second big play of the ninth inning. He also made an outstanding defensive play in right field for the second consecutive game.
With one out and a runner at first, Martin Maldonado hit fly ball to deep right that was tailing away from Haniger. However, he raced to make the catch before throwing it on the fly to Healy in the infield. Healy ran to first to double off Jabari Blash, who was pinch running for Albert Pujols.
The Mariners have won six of their last seven games and 11 of their last 13. Roenis Elias (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, and Seattle starter Marco Gonzales allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings.
Wednesday’s game had plenty of drama – including two times when the game was tied and two lead changes.
”I don’t know where to start with this game,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais. ”It had a little bit of everything in it.”
Seattle built a 4-1 lead in the third inning and led 4-3 before the Angels came back to tie it in sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena. Home runs by Nolan Fontana and Chris Young gave the Angels a 6-4 lead in the seventh.
The Angels had won six consecutive games before coming to Seattle.
”It says a lot the way our guys came back,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. ”But unfortunately it was one of those days when our bullpen was stretched a bit after having to use them a lot, and we couldn’t get it done at the end.”
INJURED ANGELS
Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards left the game after two innings because of tightness in his left hamstring. Shortstop Zack Cozart left the game in the fourth inning because of a left shoulder strain.
SEAGER SCRATCHED
Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager was a late scratch from the starting lineup Wednesday Jarius Wright Jersey , but he is not injured. Mariners officials said it was a personal issue, and Andrew Romine started at third in his place.
SERVAIS’ NEW LOOK
Before the season started, Servais said he would get a haircut just like Edwin Diaz if the closer reached 50 saves this season. Diaz, who has a Z-like symbol shaved into the left side of his head, already has an MLB-best 25 saves this season and is on pace to reach 55 saves. ”I’m aware,” Servais said. ”I’m already talking to barbers. I’m OK with that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF Kole Calhoun (oblique strain) started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Mariners: RHP Nick Vincent (groin strain) and RHP Juan Nicasio (knee swelling) both are expected to throw in the bullpen Friday on Saturday. Servais said he hopes both relievers can come of the 10-day DL by the middle up the upcoming 10-day road trip that starts in New York against the Yankees on June 19.
UP NEXT
Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (5-4, 3.08) tries to continue his June hot streak when the Angels play the Athletics on Friday in Oakland. Skaggs is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in his previous two starts this month. Trevor Cahill (1-2, 2.27) is expected to start for Oakland.
Mariners: Felix Hernandez (6-5, 5.70) is on the mound to start a four-game home series against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Hernandez is coming off his shortest outing of the season when he took the loss at Tampa Bay, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in the 7-3 loss. David Price (7-4, 4.00) is the expected starter for Boston.
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