Hard Knocks Not Coming To Seattle

May 20, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) participates in organized team activities at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

For the second straight year, HBO has asked the Seahawks to be the team represented in the show “Hard Knocks,” and for the second straight year Seattle has said “no.”

The access that Hard Knocks offers would have been great for fans, but ultimately it’s better that the team decided against it. The show is a distraction that Seattle doesn’t need. While there are a couple exceptions, most of the team’s that have been on Hard Knocks have seen a large reduction in their win total the year they participate.

Last year, the Seahawks were one of many teams who turned down HBO when invited to appear on the show. There was concern that the show would have to be cancelled since no team was willing to let cameras in on every aspect of the team’s training camp. The Miami Dolphins accepted the invite at the last second.

It is uncertain at this point if any team will be willing to be on the show this August, but I wouldn’t bet against it. There are always teams that cave in, no matter how bad of an idea it is. Guys like Dallas’s Jerry Jones simply have a tough time staying out of the spotlight, even if being in it is bad for their football team.