The HBO cameras are set to help the Falcons open training camp, with morning a walk-through and an afternoon practice Friday.
After years of turning down HBO, the Falcons agreed to appear on the award-winning documentary reality show “Hard Knocks.”
Rob Gehring, the supervising producer and director for the show, has his crew of 30 and a bank of robotic cameras in place to document how the Falcons plan to rebound from a disastrous 4-12 season.
Gehring has worked the past 20 years for the NFL. He has walked the grounds and likes the landscape of Falcons headquarters.
It has an “old school” feel to Gehring.
“That’s going to be neat for us,” he said. “We haven’t shot at a campus or college-type of environment since probably the Jets (in 2010).”
Their first event was coach Mike Smith’s staff meeting Tuesday morning. Later in the day, the cameras were rolling as the 29 rookies moved into their rooms.
The crew has done some background work on Falcons running back Steven Jackson, rookie linebacker Tyler Starr (a seventh-round pick and long shot to make the team) and reality star/defensive end Kroy Biermann.
The eclectic Jackson, an artist, world traveler and architecture fan, is an interesting character for HBO to explore.
“He’s a perfect example of what NFL players have become that people don’t realize,” Gehring said. “They wanted to see them as these spoiled professional athletes who have everything and live the charmed life and don’t take advantage of just staying in their world.
“I just don’t think that’s the case anymore. I think more and more, NFL players are like and want to be like Steven Jackson, where they have other interests off the field, and they pursue them while they are playing. They are really, really well rounded human beings.”
Starr, a seventh-round pick from South Dakota, is a long shot to make the team.
“In the beginning when Steve (Sabol) wanted to do this show, he wanted to show how hard it was to make an NFL roster,” Gehring said. “He always loved the content of these guys at the back end of the roster, the 53rd man.”
Bierrman is coming back from a Achilles surgery. He’s already on television regularly with his wife, Kim Zolciak.
Undrafted rookie wide receivers Bernard Reedy, a T-shirt-and-shirts offseason star, and Geraldo Boldewijn, a native of Amsterdam, will get some attention.
Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry’s brother, John Jerry, was on the show two seasons ago when the Miami Dolphins were featured.
“I watched him during camp and really didn’t even talk about it, to be honest,” Jerry said. “I’m going to ask (former Dolphin Paul) Soliai about it tonight in the meeting.”
Defensive tackle Corey Peters predicts that defensive line coach Bryan Cox will be a star of the show.
“He’s pretty colorful,” Peters said.
With the cameras in the meeting rooms, the viewers might see a more animated Smith, who’s composed and scripted at most of his media appearances.
“I haven’t had a chance to really see him be tough with the players, but they haven’t put on any pads yet,” Gehring said.
Smith expects the team will be at ease after a few days.
“I don’t think it’s going to affect us one bit,” Smith said. “We know what our task is, and our task is to get these guys prepared.”
Some contend that the Falcons are boring and won’t be able to pull in the same ratings that the Cincinnati Bengals did last season, when the show average 3.6 million viewers.
“‘Hard Knocks’ is a show that documents what happens,” Gehring said. “We try to be as authentic as we can.”
About the Author
