Bengals to be featured on Hard Knocks
The Cincinnati Bengals will be featured on HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp this season, according to multiple reports.
HBO and the NFL are expected to make a formal announcement next week.
The series will be in its 13th year. HBO cameras are given a great amount of access to closely follow a team through training camp. The Bengals will be the center of Hard Knocks for the second time in five years.
The last time the Bengals appeared on the show was in 2009, when they went 10-6 and won the AFC North. Although coach Marvin Lewis will be part of the show for a third time (he was defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 when they were featured), he expressed mixed feelings when asked about his team possibly returning to the show.
While coaches are typically leery about having their team constantly followed around by cameras, Lewis realizes that the show will give his young roster, particularly quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green, national exposure. Only 13 players on this year's roster were on the 2009 team.
