Shaking off the hard knocks
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
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Maybe the cameras interfere with that ever important and always delicate team chemistry.
Or maybe the players and coaches become awed by the lights and put football second to the TV cameras.
Or maybe it's just another jinx, like curses from Sports Illustrated and the Madden video games. Whatever the reason, the three teams featured on HBO's Hard Knocks have followed their appearances with disappointing seasons.
Will the 2008 Cowboys break the trend?
| Team | Previous season | After 'Hard Knocks' |
| 2001 Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl champs | 10-6, divisional playoff loss |
| The defending Super Bowl champions struggled to a 3-3 start after star running back Jamal Lewis buckled a knee during training camp. Lewis missed the season, but the Ravens finished 10-6. They beat Miami in a wild-card playoff game and then lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-10 in the divisional round. It was, by far, the most successful season by a Hard Knocks team. | ||
| 2002 Dallas Cowboys | 5-11 | 5-11 |
| HBO viewers were treated to a love fest as Cowboys coaches and owner Jerry Jones gushed over the upcoming season. But new additions (safety Roy Williams, wide receiver Antonio Bryant and defensive tackle La'Roi Glover) and new offensive coordinator Bruce Coslett failed to make an impact. The season began with the most humiliating moment in franchise history: a 19-10 loss to the expansion Houston Texans and ended with the firing of coach Dave Campo after the Cowboys limped to another 5-11 record. | ||
| 2007 Kansas City Chiefs | 9-7, wild-card loss | 4-12 |
| Looking for back-to-back playoff seasons for the first time in 12 years, the Chiefs started 4-3, with wins over the San Diego Chargers (30-16) and Oakland Raiders (12-10). Then Larry Johnson broke a foot, and the Chiefs lost their last nine games. Their 78 rushing yards per game were the worst in the NFL and they ranked 31st in scoring (14.1 points) and yards (276) per game. | ||
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