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From a column by Barry Jackson.
### NFL Films’ Ken Rodgers, producing his fifth installment, said nothing will be off limits, but coach Joe Philbin will be permitted to review the show on the morning it airs.“That’s for one purpose – to make sure we don’t reveal anything that affects competitive balance,” Rodgers said. “Our concern is not to give other teams audible calls or phrases they have not yet revealed in game situations. Our job is to make good television, not be scouts for other teams.”Contrary to a report, Rodgers said no player or union member will be allowed to view the show before it airs or given any veto power over content. “We’ve been assured access to EVERYTHING in the Dolphins’ facility,” Rodgers said. “We wouldn’t do a show that has limitations on access.”
### Hard Knocks was very fortunate that the Dolphins added colorful character Chad Ochocinco, who was featured prominently during the 2009 Hard Knocks, which chronicled the Bengals.“As a television producer, I’m glad they signed Chad because I think it’s good television,” Rodgers said. “I’m more interested in him as a player than a TV personality.“In Cincinnati, he was a lovable goofball. We are interested much more in Chad’s football story than we were in Cincinnati. He’s got an A-list storyline as far as trying to resurrect his career. He doesn’t have too many chances left.”
### Besides Ochocinco, what other storylines appeal to Rodgers and his crew?“Position battles are interesting and the quarterback battle is something every fan likes to see,” he said.Tight end Les Brown, who hadn’t played football since 2006 and left an accounting job to join the Dolphins, “is an interesting storyline. We’re interested in the plethora of receivers heading into camp and how they will shake out. The desire of the cornerback duo to raise their game and be in the top tier of NFL cornerbacks is one we’re interested in following. The offensive line has some good characters.”Director Rob Gehring chimed in with a few other potential angles: “We’ll spend some time with the defensive line. Cam Wake has a great back story. He’s at the peak of his arc. Who’s going to play off him? IsOlivier Vernon going to step up? Jared Odrick is an interesting character, has an engaging personality.”
### But Rodgers cautions that “half of our plans go out the door immediately upon arrival because other storylines are better. We will shoot up until Monday for every show, which airs Tuesday nights. I can’t even say the quarterback battle will be in Show One. We’re not locked into anything.”
### Talk about a massive editing job: NFL Films shoots 250 hours for every one-hour episode. There’s a 100-person staff “that works every day, 18-hour days for six weeks – no weekends, no breaks,” Rodgers said. Hard Knocks will again be narrated by actor Liev Schreiber.
### Rodgers and Gehring already have spent several days at Dolphins camp during offseason practices, researching and shooting footage for the opening. Two observations, in particular, have stood out to them.“The overall impression I was struck with was the desire to re-define the franchise: This is a team intent on re-capturing the glory years,” Rodgers said. “You can see it in the hallways, in the redecoration of the practice facility.”Rodgers described the new attitude thusly: “We are proud of who we are at the Dolphins, and we’re going to live up to the glory of the past.”Gehring said of Philbin: “When you’re around him, you’re like, ‘This is a guy that can turn this thing around.’ He’s a leader. After having just been around him for less than a month, I’m like: I’ll run through a wall for that guy.”Said Rodgers: “Don’t mistake Joe Philbin’s quiet, thoughtful demeanor as not being in touch with everything that is happening on the field. It might seem like there is a detachment, but he is deeply ingrained with everything.”
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
### Hard Knocks was very fortunate that the Dolphins added colorful character Chad Ochocinco, who was featured prominently during the 2009 Hard Knocks, which chronicled the Bengals.“As a television producer, I’m glad they signed Chad because I think it’s good television,” Rodgers said. “I’m more interested in him as a player than a TV personality.“In Cincinnati, he was a lovable goofball. We are interested much more in Chad’s football story than we were in Cincinnati. He’s got an A-list storyline as far as trying to resurrect his career. He doesn’t have too many chances left.”
### Besides Ochocinco, what other storylines appeal to Rodgers and his crew?“Position battles are interesting and the quarterback battle is something every fan likes to see,” he said.Tight end Les Brown, who hadn’t played football since 2006 and left an accounting job to join the Dolphins, “is an interesting storyline. We’re interested in the plethora of receivers heading into camp and how they will shake out. The desire of the cornerback duo to raise their game and be in the top tier of NFL cornerbacks is one we’re interested in following. The offensive line has some good characters.”Director Rob Gehring chimed in with a few other potential angles: “We’ll spend some time with the defensive line. Cam Wake has a great back story. He’s at the peak of his arc. Who’s going to play off him? IsOlivier Vernon going to step up? Jared Odrick is an interesting character, has an engaging personality.”
### But Rodgers cautions that “half of our plans go out the door immediately upon arrival because other storylines are better. We will shoot up until Monday for every show, which airs Tuesday nights. I can’t even say the quarterback battle will be in Show One. We’re not locked into anything.”
### Talk about a massive editing job: NFL Films shoots 250 hours for every one-hour episode. There’s a 100-person staff “that works every day, 18-hour days for six weeks – no weekends, no breaks,” Rodgers said. Hard Knocks will again be narrated by actor Liev Schreiber.
### Rodgers and Gehring already have spent several days at Dolphins camp during offseason practices, researching and shooting footage for the opening. Two observations, in particular, have stood out to them.“The overall impression I was struck with was the desire to re-define the franchise: This is a team intent on re-capturing the glory years,” Rodgers said. “You can see it in the hallways, in the redecoration of the practice facility.”Rodgers described the new attitude thusly: “We are proud of who we are at the Dolphins, and we’re going to live up to the glory of the past.”Gehring said of Philbin: “When you’re around him, you’re like, ‘This is a guy that can turn this thing around.’ He’s a leader. After having just been around him for less than a month, I’m like: I’ll run through a wall for that guy.”Said Rodgers: “Don’t mistake Joe Philbin’s quiet, thoughtful demeanor as not being in touch with everything that is happening on the field. It might seem like there is a detachment, but he is deeply ingrained with everything.”
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
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