We noted last week how little speculation there was about the identity of this year's team for HBO's "Hard Knocks." That changed late Friday.
Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Cincinnati Bengalswill be featured this season. The Bengals also were on the show in 2009, back when Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer were team leaders.
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The news first leaked out on Friday via Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News. Domowitch, who has close ties to NFL Films, deleted his tweet not long after it went up. That was an odd development, but Reedy was able to confirm the news through his sources. Reedy says an official announcement is not likely to come for a week, possibly two at the latest.
It's different to have a team back on "Hard Knocks" so soon, but the Bengals are far different than they were back in 2009. Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and a gang of talented young defenders lead the way now.
The genius of the show is not about choosing the right team anyhow. We know from "Hard Knocks" that there is intense drama and great comedy in every training camp, and NFL Films does an incredible job year after year capturing it all. We can't wait.
UPDATE: HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Bengalsannounced the news Monday. The series will premiere Tuesday, Aug. 6 on HBO. Let the countdown begin.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
