HBO's "Hard Knocks" will shine a national spotlight on the Browns this summer as the franchise attempts to claw its way back toward respectability in the aftermath of an 0-16 season.
The Browns will be featured on the 13th season of the hit documentary series during training camp. Five hour-long episodes will air from 10-11 p.m. on consecutive Tuesdays beginning Aug. 7 with the season finale Sept. 4, five days before the Browns will open the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team, HBO and NFL Films announced the news Thursday morning.
This will be the first time the Browns have been the subject of Hard Knocks. The NFL had repeatedly asked them to be on the show throughout the years, and the team finally agreed. Crews from NFL Films will begin to shoot footage at Browns headquarters in Berea in the next few weeks.
Episodes have averaged 3.9 million viewers during the past four seasons, according to a news release.
"NFL Films has always been exceptional at bringing fans closer to the game and they do an outstanding job with every show they produce, including HBO's Hard Knocks," Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in the release. "We have been asked multiple times about being featured on Hard Knocks, and we really felt like it was our turn this year and the timing was right. We want to be great partners in this league, and we also recognize Hard Knocks gives fans a special opportunity to learn more about our team and players.
"Organizationally, we are confident about where we are headed, but we have a lot of work to do in order for this franchise to earn the respect of our fans on the field. We understand winning is ultimately most important to our fans. We're looking forward to partnering with HBO and NFL Films to show how our team is working hard at training camp to prepare for the 2018 season."
Browns coach Hue Jackson fighting to keep his job after going 1-15 in 2016 and winless last season is among the top storylines Hard Knocks producers undoubtedly have on their radar. Jackson was on the show in 2013, when he was the running backs coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams _ with his salty language _ appeared on the series in 2016 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
"I've been a part of Hard Knocks and when you experience it first hand, you come to appreciate the inside look it really gives fans," Jackson said in the release. "We are excited about what we are building within our organization and feel good about the progress we have made this offseason. Being able to bring our fans in so they can get to know our players and our organization in a different way will be a huge positive for us. I want people to see how much our players and coaches care, how hard they work and how badly they want to win for Cleveland. This will be a great opportunity for our team."
Six of the last eight teams featured on Hard Knocks have matched or improved their record from the previous season. The Bengals (2009, 2013), New York Jets (2010) and Houston Texans (2015) recently made the playoffs after appearing on the show.
But many executives and coaches throughout the league view Hard Knocks as a distraction they would rather avoid.
For example, Jackson said in January 2017 he wanted no part of the series.
"Oh, my God. I'm not interested in that," Jackson said. "I'm interested in just coaching our team and getting our team better."
And new Browns General Manager John Dorsey made it known on May 2 he wouldn't be thrilled about Hard Knocks invading the organization.
"I don't think there's anything good that comes out of Hard Knocks, but we'll see," Dorsey said during a radio interview with WKNR's The Really Big Show.
However, Dorsey ultimately changed his tune.
"Like many, I was reluctant about being the featured team on Hard Knocks but once we sat down and talked about it as an organization, I feel a lot better and understand why the time is right," Dorsey said in the release. "Hue and I both feel like this team is in a good place and that we are in the process of building something that will lead to success. Being a part of Hard Knocks will give our fans the opportunity to see how passionate the people in our building are about winning and how excited we are about getting to work and preparing for the 2018 season."
A league rule stipulates teams can refrain from being on the show if they have a first-year head coach, have earned a playoff berth in the past two seasons or have been featured on Hard Knocks in the past 10 years. The Browns didn't meet any of those requirements.
The six teams eligible for mandatory inclusion were the Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Washington.
The Browns appeal to HBO for many reasons, including the presence of Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield, who hopes to convince the team to forsake its plan to start quarterback Tyrod Taylor to begin the season.
"The storylines in Cleveland are compelling, which make the Browns an ideal partner on Hard Knocks," NFL Films senior executive Ross Ketover said in the release. "We're looking forward to showing NFL fans around the world what the Haslams, John Dorsey, Hue Jackson and the coaching staff are doing to rebuild the team and reboot one of the most iconic franchises in sports."
A 30-person film crew will shoot more than 2,000 hours of footage for the series. It will have behind-the-scenes access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields. This will be show's 12th season with actor Liev Schreiber serving as its narrator.
"The standard set by this landmark program is for fans to witness the truth as it unfolds: no staging, no second takes, no varnish," Peter Nelson, executive vice president of HBO Sports, said in the release. "We are grateful to the Browns organization for allowing us to spend the summer with the team in what promises to be an intriguing training camp experience."
