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Jim Irsay Shuts Down ‘Hard Knocks’ Rumors Surrounding Colts

By Brandon Raper

Oct 1, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on the main stage during NFL on Regent Street prior to the International Series game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on the main stage during NFL on Regent Street prior to the International Series game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Owner Jim Irsay says his team won’t be inviting the “Hard Knocks” cameras to training camp, despite major offseason changes.

Jim Irsay and the Indianapolis Colts have had plenty on their plates this offseason – from the installation of new GM Chris Ballard to the recovery of franchise QB Andrew Luck’s surgically-repaired shoulder. Fans wanting a look behind the proverbial curtain will have to stay tuned to Irsay’s popular Twitter feed, as the outspoken owner has said the team won’t be featured on this season’s edition of “Hard Knocks”.

HBO’s wildly successful training camp documentary has become must-watch television for NFL fans. From rookies adjusting to life in the league, to veteran players working to hang on to their jobs (and, of course, Rex Ryan’s outstanding sound bites) ‘Hard Knocks’ is as close as most of us will ever get to being in the league – for better and for worse.

It’s that “for worse” part that naturally worries any owner, Irsay included. The spotlight of “Hard Knocks” has a way of magnifying everything happening in the organization, and Irsay clearly feels that it would prove to be little more than an unneeded distraction.

Time for the Colts to focus on becoming a playoff power, not a TV sideshow.

Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Hard Knocks
Jul 27, 2016; Anderson, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) works with center Ryan Kelly (78) during training camp at Anderson University. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger/Indianapolis Star via USA TODAY Sports /

“That’s not going to happen this year,” Irsay told Mike Chappell of CBS4 Indianapolis. “Someday I’m sure we’ll end up doing it. This was just not an ideal year for us.”

No kidding.

Head coaches are notoriously private about how they run their teams, and Chuck Pagano has plenty on his plate after nearly losing his job last year. And really, every team could come up with a reason why they should get a pass. The league, in turn, made equally simple rules for being exempt from the show.

To remain exempt, a team could have appeared on “Hard Knocks” in the last ten years, have a first-year head coach, or have reached the playoffs in one of the two previous years.

That’s a big 0-3 for the Colts, but still good news for fans. There are seven other teams who aren’t yet exempt, either.

How big of a deal is it, really? There’s no telling. But if Ballard and Pagano feel they can do their jobs better without the distraction, it’s not worth risking it.

After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, the Colts have their work cut out for them to return to playoff glory. Let the Cleveland Browns deal with the bright lights instead.

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