Thursday night at 7:30, Browns Nation will either be at the stadium or in front of a television, anxiously awaiting the kickoff of the season we’ve been waiting for.

Let me recommend finding a television tonight at 10 p.m., as well.

Tonight is the first episode of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, airing on HBO. If you’re not familiar with the Hard Knocks concept, NFL Films has invaded Cowboys’ training camp with an army of people, cameras and microphones, capturing everything from practice action to closed-door meetings.

If you’re not familiar with the characters on the Cowboys’ roster, please watch. Even if you are, this is a great way to study up on the Browns’ star-studded opening-day opponent and start the countdown to September 7th.

Starting next week, we’ll be running “Cowboy Countdown” articles on ClevelandBrowns.com as we get ready for the real season. Watching the unprecedented access Hard Knocks is getting will certainly be a part of that.

For now, click the links below to read two articles from Dallas-area newspapers on the show. Enjoy watching; I look forward to your feedback.

Lights, camera…business as usual for Cowboys

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/footbal...cowlede.4301268.html

It’s a Hard Knocks life for Cowboys

http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/811640.html

Thanks for the rad Zac, but I can't promote the Boys' T.V. I think it is absurd for teams to video tape this type of stuff. It brings unwanted pressure and attention to a team that HELLO needs to win a playoff game and hasn't.

quote:

Originally posted by BpG:
Thanks for the rad Zac, but I can't promote the Boys' T.V. I think it is absurd for teams to video tape this type of stuff. It brings unwanted pressure and attention to a team that HELLO needs to win a playoff game and hasn't.

It is probably a major distraction for the team ... but it is compelling as hell to watch IMO. Trust me, it gives you an inside scoop as to what is going down in their training camp. I missed it tonight, but plan to catch a re-airing.

Thanks for the heads up Z-man.

Maybe with all the money coming in from the HBO show, Jerry Jones plans to pay off the huge tab for the new stadium.

I'm just now finishing watching the first episode on the DVR. Great stuff all around. Whatever I pay every month for HBO, this show is worth it.

Man, the Cowboys are loaded. Add Zach Thomas, Pacman and two first-rounders to 13 Pro Bowlers. This is gonna be a fun one.

quote:

Originally posted by zacjackson:
Man, the Cowboys are loaded. Add Zach Thomas, Pacman and two first-rounders to 13 Pro Bowlers. This is gonna be a fun one.

I urge others to watch this show to get a good peak at what we are facing this first game. The are loaded ... 13 pro bowlers with other guys that are also upper crust.

A few things that stuck with me, :

- Pacman (errr Adam) Jones catching 6 consecutive punts while holding all of the balls in his arms. Then, after a few tries, his buddy Crayton matched him.

- The rookie pranks are always fun to watch ... I just don't think it is a good idea for Pacman (errrrr Adam) to be leading them.

The rookie who got up there and sung the Tempations song holding a banana w/two plums attached (use your imagination on the symbolism) was classic.

- No Jessica Simpson sighting yet

- T.O., despite his wacky nature, is obsessive compulsive about becoming a better football player. His camp battles going against Pacman are hilarious and very competitive. Pacm... I mean Adam clearly has a lot of talent and going against Owens daily will only make him better. He could easily become the 14th probowler.

- Some of us fans complain about Randy Lerner not being involved enough in the Browns. After watching Jerry Jones stick his nose into every aspect of the team ... I am thankful we don't have an owner like that. He makes their draft picks ... he makes roster moves ... it is bizarre. Don't get me wrong ... his organization gets absolutely first class treatment and you have to love the passion for his team ... but more than a little intrusive.

- Good to see Dave Campo. I didn't realize he was their DB coach. I like that guy.

- I thought the Browns had camp cupcake ... apparently we aren't the only one. Last year we faced a team in week 1 that went full tilt in camp and came out and whip our butts. At least we'll see to healthy rosters square off on Sep 7th.


This is a good show ... a must watch for me every week. I'm especially interested this year knowing we have these guys to start off the season. Holy cow is that going to be tough test for the good guys.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FlapJack,

This would be a good thread to move to the Tailgate Lot on the message board ... more people could see this topic over there.

quote:

Some of us fans complain about Randy Lerner not being involved enough in the Browns. After watching Jerry Jones stick his nose into every aspect of the team ... I am thankful we don't have an owner like that. He makes their draft picks ... he makes roster moves ... it is bizarre. Don't get me wrong ... his organization gets absolutely first class treatment and you have to love the passion for his team ... but more than a little intrusive.

Jerry Jones strikes me as someone who was either

A.) A gay ballerina in a former life
or...
B.) A wickedly shrewd control freak that's pretty good buddies with Bush.

Im on the fence about this guy. heh heh.

I believe I read somewhere there will be no Jessica sightings. Of course that could change in the remaining episodes but for now we lose.

I think they did a nice job of introducing several storylines. Now, having a commercial-free hour helps that, but there's so much to choose from. They're following 80 guys plus a character of an owner, his son, and an entertaining coaching staff, so there's so much going on.

Football junkies like us would probably love the stuff that never makes the show just as much.

quote:

I believe I read somewhere there will be no Jessica sightings. Of course that could change in the remaining episodes but for now we lose.

...maybe not all hope is lost.

I have it on good authority that Ole' Billy B. has some leftover footage from a taped walk-through w/ Dallas that features Mrs. Simpson wearing a Cribbs jersey and an orange Gucci bag.

The way I hear it, they're gonna use Roxio and pro-tools to superimpose her in post.

heh heh.

*sigh*

I really gotta work on my delivery...

*grin*

I don't know Zac ... righ now, I don't have a really good feeling about week 1.

I'm seeing visions of #28 dancing around our LB's and #81 racing past and jumping over our DBs.

Hi Zac, Great job during the preseason.
I was checking out the Cowboys blog the other day. They give NO respect to our corners. It was ripe with disdain for our secondary as a whole.

I'll be driving out to the game from the Poconos 372 miles. I expect a hard fought game. A Browns"W" and new respect for our defense. Big Baby is our corner stone this year ! Go Browns

I loved the close of the show.

Get your popcorn ready.

We're more than ready by now.