NFL Movies exec reacts to Payments’ sturdy emotions about being featured ‘Onerous Knocks’ crew

People inside the Buffalo Payments, comparable to quarterback Josh Allen, have not hidden that they really feel Buffalo being the featured “Onerous Knocks: Coaching Camp” crew this summer season may function an undesirable distraction for a membership trying to make its first Tremendous Bowl look since January 1994. 

Throughout a latest chat with Tim Graham of The Athletic, NFL Movies vice chairman and government producer Ken Rodgers addressed the Payments’ emotions about being a part of a present they clearly need nothing to do with forward of the upcoming season. 

“I perceive it,” Rodgers acknowledged. “At the same time as a filmmaker, I consider in under-promising and over-delivering in our work. I need to be below the radar and shock folks and never have folks fascinated about us till we air and notice what a fantastic present it’s. Virtually each coach needs to remain below the radar, however ‘Onerous Knocks,’ to its credit score, is so standard that it actually raises the profile of the crew we function. It’s antithetical to a corporation’s targets typically. …The Nationwide Soccer League is, ultimately, an leisure enterprise and a licensing enterprise and a fan engagement enterprise. When you’re chosen to play in Europe, when you’re taking part in on Thursday night time out on the West Coast, you settle for it, you progress on, you handle it and also you attempt to maximize that have.”

The Payments are undeniably a captivating crew this July. Allen is the league’s reigning regular-season Most Invaluable Participant however is 0-4 in opposition to fellow signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in postseason play. Whereas Mahomes is a three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP, Allen has but to information Buffalo previous the convention championship spherical of a postseason match. 

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Payments and Baltimore Ravens tied as the highest betting favorites at +600 odds to win Tremendous Bowl LX in February 2026. Rodgers advised that informal soccer followers “not understanding sufficient concerning the Payments” was one purpose NFL Movies picked the AFC East membership for the “Onerous Knocks” project. 

“They’ve gotten their nationwide appearances,” Rodgers stated concerning the Payments. “They’ve gotten their playoff runs. They’ve gotten their awards, together with final 12 months’s MVP. However I don’t suppose sufficient folks find out about them and what their philosophy is and what mindset created this present run of success. That’s a disgrace, and it makes me really feel like they’re the proper crew to reveal outdoors their very own fandom.”

For a bit printed again in Might, Graham wrote that Payments head coach Sean McDermott, common supervisor Brandon Beane and different folks related to the franchise “detest the concept of ‘Onerous Knocks.'” Extra lately, Rodgers indicated McDermott and his gamers will grow to be “very comfy” with “Onerous Knocks” being a part of the Payments’ training-camp course of. 

“They’re not going to be rattled by a pair cameras,” Rodgers added concerning the Payments. “They’ve been below a microscope for years and years now — on a optimistic aspect. If anybody is nervous, then the fear ought to disappear fairly rapidly due to the tradition that’s already current.”

Maybe McDermott will efficiently use having to be a part of “Onerous Knocks” as a technique to inspire his gamers forward of Buffalo’s Week 1 “Sunday Night time Soccer” matchup versus Baltimore on Sept. 7.