While Woody Johnson has interest in Hard Knocks, Rex Ryan does not

After the Broncos rejected the notion of being the stars of this year's "Hard Knocks," Jets owner Woody Johnson might want to do it again.

By Josh Katzowitz

Apr 11, 2012 at 3:08 pm ET • 1 min read

One of these men wants to be featured on Hard Knocks; the other apparently doesn't. (US Presswire)

As HBO tries to land a team for the next season of Hard Knocks, Jets owner Woody Johnson already has expressed an interest in another go-around for his squad. Johnson said the exposure brought the last time the Jets were on the show was “tremendous,” and of course, it gave us one of the best-ever Rex Ryan quotes when he punctuated a pregame speech by blasphemously ordering his players to nosh on some provisions.

But it sounds like Ryan -- who usually doesn’t mind being the ringleader of whatever spectacle is happening around the organization -- isn’t interested in returning to HBO’s airwaves, because, as Fox Sports’ Adam Schein writes, Ryan wants to avoid a circus-type atmosphere.

The 2010 season of Hard Knocks featuring the Jets (including Antonio Cromartie’s inability to remember all of his kids’ names and ages) was my favorite in the series, but considering Tim Tebow, still Mark Sanchez’s backup, might be the BIGGEST star of the show, the training room likely would fill quickly with bruised egos. Knowing that, you can’t blame Ryan for wanting to avoid that stumbling block (Joe Namath probably would agree).

But if Johnson says he absolutely wants the exposure -- and with the Giants coming off their Super Bowl win, it sounds like that’s what he wants -- Ryan would most likely be forced to acquiesce to his boss’ wishes.

HBO initially approached the Broncos about featuring Peyton Manning and company but were turned down. If the Jets decide ultimately not to do the show, HBO, according to Schein, could go after the 49ers and Ravens and focus on the Harbaugh brothers.

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