Link: Hard Knock Curse?
A commenter on the blog last week (sorry I can’t remember who!) asked a great question basically wondering if Hard Knocks was akin to the Madden Curse, and I thought it was a GREAT point. I went home that night fully intending to research it, had a gassy infant (I remember when I used to be the gassy infant in my marriage …sigh) thrust into my arms, and totally lost track … ah well …
Meanwhile, Rich Cimini was ON TRACK, and did all the requisite research on his blog. Thanks Rich!!
Here’s a breakdown of how the “Knocks” teams fared, with their record the previous season, their “Knocks” record and how they did in the first four games of the regular season. Why the first four? Because those games, obviously, are the most impacted by what occurred in training camp.
2001 Ravens: 12-4 [Super Bowl] (previous year) — 10-6 [Playoffs] (‘Knocks’ Year) — 3-1 (First 4)
2002 Cowboys: 5-11 — 5-11 — 2-2
2007 Chiefs: 9-7 [Playoffs] — 4-12 — 2-2
2008 Cowboys: 13-3 [Playoffs] — 9-7 — 3-1
2009 Bengals: 4-11-1 — 10-6 [Playoffs] — 3-1
Like that old IBM commercial, you make the call!
24 Responses to Link: Hard Knock Curse?
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John Z says:
At worst, no impact, at best, strong start
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And since Madden stop supporting pc, he’s dead to me.
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Jeff says:
At this point the madden cover is a guarantee. Last year Polamalu fell victim.
Hard Knocks is a toss up at this point. Better to check the injury list to see how that has impacted teams.
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Tsd says:
So we got the Hard Knocks, First Monday Night Game and a T-giving game….Wow times have changed for the jets huh?
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Big_Papi says:
I see you are running out of ideas, Please stop making things up!!!
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TJBfan (twitter @infresco4) says:
That claim is just ridiculous…..
Ok lets look at the 2008 Playoff teams and see which teams didn’t make the playoffs in 2009…
Titans
Steelers
Dolphins
Giants
Panthers
FalconsA fluke maybe? Ok how about 2007? Wow…again 6 teams that did not make the playoffs the year after.
Hard knocks has nothing to do with it! Its simply due to the nature of the sport….schedule, injuries, cap casualties, free agency, talent, coaching…all help make up the playoff scenario.
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C Low says:
Curse? What curse?
BTW…Rex was saying how no NFL offenses want to face him week 1. Rex said his record on opening day is awesome because the offense has no clue what to expect. I know Rex dumbs it down in pre-season. Curious? Can anyone pull up the teams that Rex’s defense has faced week one and what their offense put up? I would LOVE to see that.
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AKA Jack says:
The Jets are a team on the rise in the largest media market in the country. They are used to the distractions that come with the big market and since Rex got here they seem to thrive on it.
Rex seems to have a great ability to keep the team loose, having fun and still very focused on the prize. I think this will actually be a big boost to a franchise who historically got little respect.
The only one hurt here is KSK. Who needs to read a parody when we get to watch the real Rex.
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Curse? This is why I hate Joe Beningo. He will rant about how this is horrible for the Jets and so on for the next 2 months…..
I could care less if we were on Hard Knocks or not but now that we are I am going to embrace it and hope the rest of the country now sees why we love Rex Ryan, S Greene, Mandgold, Revis, Keller and Sanchez etc….. I would also assume a few coaches will be annoyed how awesome and fun our camp is. This will be just another reason of getting players to want to come to the Jets next year.
It might even be the reverse curse for us…..Herm was dying to have the Jets do Hard Knocks in 2005 we didnt get it and then we sucked and went 4-12.
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starz31 says:
Ravens after a SB-win, theres always a let-down there. And they still made the playoffs.
The cowboys were horrible in 2002. Hard Knocks had no effect there. Quncy Carter was their QB…enough said. The cowboys of 2008? Played in a tough position, not much depth. Didn’t repeat their success of 2007, simple as that. Plus still had TO.
The Chiefs were on the decline.
The Bengals had a great year. Why? B/c they were a pretty solid football team. Good defense most of the year. And ran the ball well. PLUS had to deal with 2 unforeseen challenges (DC-coordinator and CHenry).
Who was on it 2003-2006??
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charleyjet says:
I think its great. I look forward to seeing it. When the Jets were in their glory there wasn’t a more star power franchise (see Sonny Werblin, Joe Willie Namath). Let’s get back to that! Doesn’t have to be the Dallas Cowboys all the time.
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Revis Christ says:
starz
hbo didnt do it every year until 2007 it was soppossed to be just a one time thing but it was a huge hit so they kept doing it -
Marooned on Revis Island says:
How much do you think Kerry Rhodes is pissed he’s not going to be on TV. I’m sure he’ll get a guest spot on good morning phoenix or something like that.
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roof says:
i think its actually the curse of tank johnson
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mdh says:
I was just looking at the ‘Hard Knocks’ “curse” yesterday… of the two playoff appearances (the ’01 Ravens and ’09 Bengals), there was only one Wildcard win.
It’s not a “curse” but more the affect that so much hype has on the players — in a year when they’re already pretty hyped up due to success during their previous season.
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Pdubbs says:
Yea, these guys are not used to being on camera ????????
Cmon enough with the negative talk… .We are on HBO and Monday night openers….Jets are relevant !!!
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mole57 says:
The numbers imply that It is a curse except when it isn’t. (And Herm going 4-12 has absolutely nothing to do with a curse.)
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Besides, it gives me a chance to see camp since they left Hofstra.
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Christian says:
Well in my opinion the numbers don’t prove to me that there is a curse, i think that is in the eye of the beholder. But that’s besides the point, how is everyone not completely PSYCHED that there will be an entire season of a show about the new york jets, and coincidentally it is going to be documenting the offseason of the year that they are going to win the super bowl!!
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most of those teams sucked before they got on Hard Knocks
Dilfer replaced by Grbac, and Jamal Lewis tore his knee
Kansas City was being deconstructed by Herm
The boys, who was their coach again
The boys again, they were a celebrity team.
The Bengals got better.
I dunno, I don’t care for the Jets on HK
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WOJF says:
4 out of 5 teams won fewer games, not a big enough sample to draw conclusions though and CIN was fine last year. Unconcerned.
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Mike DeVito fan says:
who cares! they haven’t won a super bowl in 40 years this is something not to worry about
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BamBam says:
Cimci stole my friggin post! I must admit that the breakdown of the first four games was his – unless he stole that from one of you guys.
BTW Here’s a good story:
When I was in Denver for the AFC Championship in the ’98 season I met a reporter from NY in the hotel workout room. I was living in Nova Scotia at the time and he was amazed that a Jets fan lived there and would fly all the way to Denver to watch the game. He was a sawed off guy with dark hair but I failed to remember his name – they didn’t have much internet coverage in those days and I didn’t read the NY papers. He complained to me about how his dog was at home and how he was tired of all of the travel. This guy said that he wanted the season to end so he could get back home. Every time i see Cimci’s picture I ask myself, “I wonder if he was the guy?”
There’s no curse.
Jes are just gonna spank a$$ all season long. As long as Revis isn’t on the Madden cover.