Jets fear NFL will strong-arm ‘Hard Knocks’ appearance

John Jones | USA TODAY SportsThe Jets have made it clear they do not want to be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series this summer.

The NFL likely does not care.

From Pro Football Talk:

Per a league source, the Jets are bracing for the preseason Hard Knocks assignment, despite making known publicly (and privately) their lack of interest in serving as the focal point of this year’s show.

The Jets are one of four teams — the Bears, Commanders and Saints are the others — the league can force to do the show based on pre-established selection criteria. If a team has an incumbent head coach, has not made the playoffs in two years and has not been featured by HBO in the last decade, its hand can be…