Coach Joe Philbin defends Miami Dolphins appearance on HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ -NFL News
Miami Dolphins’ new head coach, Joe Philbin, says the move of the team becoming a subject of HBO’s reality series ‘Hard Knocks’ this summer is purely a football decision and has backing of the owner, Stephen Ross.
The show, which is going to document the team’s training camp activities, will launch the premier of its seventh season series on August 7.
Philbin has defended the team’s involvement in the show, saying it will facilitate the fans more than anyone else on the team.
The coach said:
"Our owner supported this decision but in no way, shape or form forced us to make the decision.”
He added:
"It's a chance to show the new direction and identity of this football team, where we're headed, and at the same time connect with our past, the great tradition and heritage we have here in Miami."
HBO has been airing the series regularly every year, except for the last year (2011), when it could not be telecast due to the National Football League (NFL) lockout.
A year earlier, in 2010, the New York Jets were the subject of the series that made Jets players and officials popular among the football community. Jets head coach, Rex Ryan, almost assumed the status of a reality star.
Dolphins coach believes the series provides those fans with an opportunity to watch their stars working out, who otherwise cannot afford to see them training in the scorching heat of 110-degree index.
He said:
"It's a great opportunity to connect with our fans, for the people who aren't going to be able to come out here daily in 110-degree heat index weather and watch our guys participate in training camp.”
Since it is first year of the head coach with Dolphins and he said to have a rather up-tempo and aggressive workout scheme, the fans will be interested in watching the coach supervising the workout.
After the premier on August 7, the series will be telecast from the following week.
This year’s programme has additional four one-hour episodes, which will be aired on subsequent Tuesdays.
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