Crew members from HBO's "Hard Knocks" film Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) during training camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. The upcoming season will debut Aug. 8. LOREN ELLIOTT | Times
TAMPA — Here's a dirty little secret about HBO's Hard Knocks, the five-part behind-the-scenes look at a National Football League team during training camp:
Teams are not willing participants. Frankly, they would rather not do it.
Coaches and players in the clandestine world of the NFL don't want cameras and microphones meddling into every aspect of their business, shadowing their every step, recording their every word, some of it very R-rated, on and off the field.