It’s the honor that absolutely no NFL team wants and this year it has been bestowed upon the Oakland Raiders. Tuesday night it was announced that the Raiders would be featured on the 2019 edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks produced by NFL Films. With the team officially moving to Las Vegas next season, this will be the last chance for the fabled football film makers to capture the majesty that is Oakland, Calif. Needless to say, owner Mark Davis and head coach Jon Gruden were not pleased with the selection. No team ever is.
Don’t get too excited at the prospects of watching Antonio Brown and other star Oakland players take center stage. Hard Knocks likes to ignore all the interesting people and instead focus on some practice squad center with 14 kids or a UDFA cornerback from a NCAA Division III school that brings his pet sugarglider to practice.
From obvious stars to guys you might not know — yet.
Five Raiders poised for breakout roles on @HBO's Hard Knocks: https://t.co/jld76sn2tH
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) June 12, 2019
Bears jettison a kicker early
As hard as they’ve tried to fix it, the Chicago Bears can’t seem to solve their kicking issues. The kicking competition in the team’s mandatory minicamp has already claimed its first casualty as the ironically named Chris Blewitt was shoved out the airlock Thursday. Eddie Pineiri and Elliott Fry continue to battle for the job. All three kickers missed kicks from 40-plus Tuesday.
#Bears roster update:
We have waived kicker Chris Blewitt.— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) June 12, 2019
Sony Michel goes under the knife
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel had his knee scoped recently and is expected to be ready for training camp. Michel appeared in 13 games last season and started eight, rushing for 931 yards and six touchdowns.
Report: Sony Michel had a knee scope https://t.co/yM9xpYOwOD
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 12, 2019