Brock Osweiler Reveals Unexpected Benefit of Hard Knocks

NFL fans have said for years they don’t want their teams on the HBO hit series “Hard Knocks.” Well quarterback Brock Osweiler may have just changed that.

The votes against the show surround the idea that it’s an unwanted distraction. Teams have a hard enough time keeping their focus during a football season. How can they be expected to reach their optimal heights with cameras jammed in their faces every time they step into the locker room or on the field?

It’s a fair enough argument. GM Ozzie Newsome said it’s hard enough to win in this league when there are no distractions. So when players are forced to devote their attention away from the game at any point, they got no chance. Still, is the show completely without benefit? Not to the fans. They love the unprecedented inside access it provides. Not just a look at how the teams work, but also the people and personalities that might not show up on Sundays.

There is also the added attention it might bring players who fail to make the roster on that team, allowing them extra opportunities elsewhere. However, it was Osweiler who became the first player to unveil a potential benefit being on the critically-acclaimed series could bring: free agent salesmanship.

Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com explains:

"There were countless other things Osweiler could’ve been doing on that day in early March as he contemplated whether he really was going to leave the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent. Instead, he reached for his remote control, turned up the volume on his television and focused on an unexpected rerun of the Texans’ 2015 appearance on the HBO series “Hard Knocks.” Osweiler already had a good feeling about the Texans. However, he also understood that, because of timing, he’d never have a chance to meet with any of the team’s decision makers before potentially signing a deal. So he grinned as O’Brien pushed his team in the midst of grueling practices. He nodded in approval when the coach emphasized his lofty expectations. This was critical research for a player who already had quizzed former Texans and diligently studied the Houston offense because, as Osweiler recently said, “There was definitely a lot of faith involved in this.”"

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That’s perhaps one thing people didn’t expect. Sure it allows other coaches to see players on the team, but nobody stopped to realize it also might allow players to see the team. Ones who might become available in the near future and are looking for a new home. Keep in mind Osweiler wasn’t the only big name the Houston Texans landed back in March. Running back Lamar Miller and guard Jeff Allen were two other highly-sought talent they were able to reel in.

Obviously Hard Knocks wasn’t the only reason that happened, but it’s safe to say the extra publicity gave them a helpful boost. Now the Texans are defending AFC South champions and may have a better roster than they did last year with Osweiler as the hopeful centerpiece. Depending on their success in the short and long-term, this might be a game-changer in terms of team attitudes towards doing “Hard Knocks”.

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