For the first time, the NFL and NFL Films are planning to cram in two teams into the annual HBO training camp docuseries “Hard Knocks” - the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the league won’t make an announcement yet because of the upcoming “virtual-only” draft amid the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement could have happened last week at the Annual League Meeting in Florida, but the meeting was canceled.
The Rams were the subject of “Hard Knocks” in 2016, but it would be the Chargers’ first time on the franchise. The two teams are scheduled to begin playing at the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in 2020.
The question, though, is whether there will be a 2020 training camp or season at all. Nothing is guaranteed due to the pandemic, which has put all sporting events on hold for the time being.
Teams generally have to volunteer for “Hard Knocks.” Teams that made the playoffs in the past two years, teams that have a new head coach and teams that have appeared on the show in the past 10 years are considered exempt.
That would mean the Rams do not have to do the show, but they still can volunteer themselves.
It also means that the Washington Redskins aren’t a likely pick this year, exempted by the hiring of new coach Ron Rivera. The Redskins were reportedly under consideration last summer before the league chose the then-Oakland Raiders.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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