Hard Knocks with the Cincinnati Bengals earned three sports emmys

HBO's Hard Knocks, a five-part show that documents a team's training camp every year, earned three Sports Emmy Awards at the 35th Annual Sports Emmy Awards in New York City. Hard Knocks, which featured the Cincinnati Bengals, won for Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics and Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound. This gives the Hard Knocks franchise 11 Sports Emmy Awards since it began in 2001.

The three Sports Emmy's ties 2010 when the New York Jets were featured. When Hard Knocks featured the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009, they were given two Sports Emmys (the first time they received more than one). The Kansas City Chiefs (2007), Dallas Cowboys (2008) and Miami Dolphins (2012) each earned one Emmy during their respective presentations.

When NFL Films struggled to find a participating team for Hard Knocks, the Bengals stepped in. However, the NFL advised teams that if there are no volunteers in the future, someone will be forced to participate. If a team hired a new head coach over the offseason, qualified for the postseason once over the last two years or appeared on Hard Knocks in the past ten years, they could be forced into participating. That leaves the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the St. Louis Rams.