Newest Bengals linebacker James Harrison -- who looks really weird in something other than yellow and black, by the way -- has made no secret that he doesn't care for the fine folks of "Hard Knocks" hanging out in Cincinnati.
He ripped the show before it originally aired, calling it a "pain in the ass" and wasn't particularly friendly towards the cameras in the first episode. Tuesday he explained, via Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, exactly why he hates the cameras.
"I don’t feel they deserve to be here. They did nothing to be here, other than want to be here," Harrison said. “They didn’t put no blood, sweat and tears into none of this. All these men in here, they did that. They (the cameras) did nothing. No one deserves to see this, to come inside of this unless you’re a part of this. That’s why."
Hey, that's Harrison's prerogative. And you can bet whatever amount of money you'd like that the Steelers wouldn't be letting the cameras in the house; Harrison's old school like that and it's OK to respect it.
It might be pretty awkward when he has cameras following him around for a 5 a.m. workout on Tuesday though.
Injury Roundup
- Plaxico Burress was placed on IR today, effectively ending his run with the Steelers and possibly his career.
- Randall Cobb was seen "holding his arm" after every catch and is playing through a lot of pain right now.
- Oft-injured Cardinals running back Ryan Williams recently had platlete-rich plasma injection in his leg.
- Redskins rookie safety Phillip Thomas is done for the year having been placed on season-ending reserve.
- Dion Jordan isn't exactly progressing the way the Dolphins are hoping he will early on in the preseason.
Puncher's Chance?
Chiefs wideout Jonathan Baldwin is a former first-round pick, one who was selected with the 26th overall pick in 2011. He has lots of potential but he's playing under a new regime and when Andy Reid was asked about Baldwin fighting for a roster spot this year ... weeeeeeeeell, yeaaaaaaaaah. About that...
"I've told the team nobody's made the team," Reid said. "That's not how we roll here. Everybody's competing and you better strap it on every day. The competition out here is crazy and they're getting after each other.
"Jon's competing like a wild man and working out the offense and the different plays that he has just like everybody else is. He's made some nice plays here at camp and I'm sure they'll continue on in the games."
That link above (which is also right here) goes to the always-excellent Arrowhead Pride and it's worth reading; there was some concern about the production of wideouts with Alex Smith in the game. Smith continually checked down but that shouldn't really be a surprise given that he's Alex Smith.
Also fun: remember that time Bill Belichick told Thomas Dimitroff that Baldwin was basically the same player as Julio Jones? Good times!
Borderline
So, you'll recall that the 49ers used a first-round pick on Illinois wideout A.J. Jenkins in the 2011 NFL Draft. You'll also recall that he got less playing time last year than Randy Moss. Things aren't going much better this year, either. In fact, 49ers beat writer Matt Barrows put Jenkins on his personal roster bubble list. Kind of anyway.
"His potential is undeniable. He's very quick, very fluid. He gets up to top speed quickly, etc., etc.," Barrows writes. "But he simply hasn't been one of the six best receivers in training camp. If the 49ers keep him, they will say it's because they believe Jenkins has a bright future. But that will be a tough sell to the five or six others who are cut and to the remaining players in the locker room, who will privately conclude that Jenkins' first-round status bought him another year on the roster."
It would be flat-out stunning, frankly, if the 49ers cut a first-round pick before he even began his second year in the NFL. But perhaps it's not that unrealistic.
"Walk the Dog"
The Steelers have high hopes for first-year linebacker Jarvis Jones. (They should -- they took him in the first round. But, uh, see: above.)
Steel City Insider's Jim Wexell had a good chat with Steelers LB coach Keith Butler about what he specifically wants from Jones, including "15, 16 sacks," and getting to see the youngster to "walk the dog."
"Collapse the pocket," Butler said of the term. "Take a 350-pound guy, get right up under his face, and walk him back to the quarterback."
Pickled
Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones is juicing to combat cramps. Literally. Like with pickle juice.
Creepy Tom Brady
It's all fun and games until you get caught checking out the sideline girl's butt and making a weird face on camera, Tom.
Hot Reads
'Tis the season for good football reading. We'll put some here. If you have a suggestion hit me up on Twitter @WillBrinson with a link.
- Chris Burke of SI.com takes a look at the Eagles use of the "stack" formation in their first preseason game.
- Over at ESPN, Mike Sando and Nick Wagoner debate Bernie Kosar's comments re: Rams wide receivers.
- Richard Deitsch of theMMQB.com walks us through how Cincinnati "Hard Knocks" sausage is made.
- Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com takes a look at eight potential big roster casualties.
Potent Quotables
"Mediocrity can't be accepted." - Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis talking about the rant he gave to his fellow players.
"Johnny is a great guy, he is a great leader, he's real down to earth." - Giants defensive end and former Texas A&M standout Damontre Moore on Johnny F. Football (a.k.a. Johnny Manziel)
"Geno was one of the only real leaders we had on the team in 2012." - Dana Holgorson to CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman on Geno Smith.