Hard Knocking

The new season of HBO's "Hard Knocks" kicked off this week. This year we get the Atlanta Falcons. There was some grumbling over the choice of the Falcons. The team wasn't spicy enough. I don't think that anyone other than Falcons fans knows enough about the team to judge how spicy they really are. Beyond that, every one of the 32 teams would present an interesting subject for "Hard Knocks." Every team has characters among the players and coaches. Every team has training camp drama and hijnks. There is no bad choice for the series. Besides, the show is filmed and produced by the magicians at NFL Films. Everything that they do is simply amazing.

If the Atlanta Falcons showed anything in the first episode, it's that they are a feisty team. There was enough pushing, enough haymakers, enough skirmishes, enough fights for a few seasons. Let alone a single episode. Spicy enough for you? #45, rookie linebacker Jacques Smith, is making no friends on the Falcons offensive line. At least three linemen went after the youngster. To his credit, Smith never backed down but he might want to take it down a few notches. They are his teammates now. Even new offensive line coach Mike Tice had some words for #45. It's great to see Tice back in the coaching business. He was a terrific line coach with the Minnesota Vikings in the late '90s and it's good to see him teaching the big guys again. He's always had a great rapport with the players in the trenches. It's also fun to hear him drop some "F-bombs." He's in an "F-bomb" race with linebacker/defensive end Kroy Bierman. After one episode, it's tied at 3. 

Some of the Falcons characters? Receivers Roddy White and Harry Douglas. It doesn't look or sound like White ever stops talking. He may even talk more than he practices. Douglas? He wears women's deodorant and appears fairly proud of it. His wife threw out the observation that her husband brings the impact of an adult and about five kids. The couple doesn't need any kids. Led by Tice, defensive line coach Bryan Cox, and head coach Mike Smith, the Falcons coaches could be as entertaining as any that "Hard Knocks" has ever covered. Then there's the always intriguing general manager Thomas Dimitroff. His road to the top of the personnel game is as interesting as any in the league. He was once part of the Cleveland Browns grounds crew just so that he could be close to the game. Fortunately for him and the Falcons, Bill Belichick was the Browns head coach at the time. The New England Patriots coach always keeps a keen eye open for smart football people. Dimitroff might also be the only vegan in the entire football universe. 

"Hard Knocks" will always be a fun viewing option as we pass the days until the start of the NFL's regular season. Even if it's with the Atlanta Falcons.