Maybe it was just never meant to be. After weeks of talks among the University of North Carolina, head football coach Bill Belichick and NFL Films, the Tar Heels will not be the subject of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” offseason series, sources tell CBS Sports.
“NFL Films had discussions with Coach Belichick and UNC about appearing on Hard Knocks this offseason but couldn’t reach an agreement,” a spokesperson for NFL Media, which includes NFL Films, told CBS Sports on Tuesday.
As CBS Sports reported late last week, all sides felt they were close on a deal. But a contract had not been struck yet, though the belief was they’d eventually get there. Sources say creative control was at the center of the sides being unable to reach an agreement.
Considering where we are in the NFL calendar, as well as the fact that NFL Films had turned to a college program for the first time ever, it is unlikely any NFL team will participate in the offseason edition of the series.
There were no takers in the NFL after last year’s inaugural run with the New York Giants ahead of what turned into a disastrous 3-14 season. NFL free agency begins on March 12, which doesn’t give the group enough time to find a team that would open its doors for what is the most crucial part of the offseason series.
Bill Belichick introduces first staff at North Carolina: Family members, ex-players among names to know
Shehan Jeyarajah
An announcement regarding the teams participating in the training camp and/or in-season “Hard Knocks” series could be revealed as early as the…
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