Most NFL coaches don’t want the Hard Knocks cameras anywhere near their training camp. But Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has allowed the HBO/NFL Films documentary program to have access to his team twice, with no apparent problems. And Lewis says that’s because he knows how to deal with the cameras.
On Wednesday’s Dan Patrick Show, Lewis told guest host Mike Florio that he can control what gets out because he can avoid the cameras if he has to talk about something that might give another team a strategic advantage.
“I have the ability to know where the camera is if I have to have a conversation that matters,” Lewis said. “There’s obviously certain things that are personal to us, but you basically forget about the fact -- every week when we see the show there are parts that you forget about, as you’re doing your job, there’s stuff you don’t even realize they’d be interested in.”
Lewis said there are aspects of the team’s playbook and terminology that he makes sure don’t get broadcast, but for the most part he thinks it’s fine to have cameras in the meeting rooms. For Lewis, Hard Knocks is not a problem.