‘Hard Knocks’ Recap: The Jay Gruden Speech
By Jason Marcum
Aug 17, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden in the third quarter of a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
If you caught the latest episode of “Hard Knocks” last night, then you were fortunate enough to witness what may have been the best rant given by a coach that was actually caught on camera.
It occurred after a terrible practice sees ion, mostly by the Bengals’ offense while practicing at Springboro High School. During an offensive team meeting the next day, the HBO camera crew captured offensive coordinator Jay Gruden’s rant that undoubtedly got every player’s attention:
"“Some of the (bleep) that happened yesterday you wouldn’t expect on the first day of rookie OTAs. We had three dropped snaps and a couple things that were my fault. That is Mickey Mouse horse(bleep) football right there and we all had our hand in it. Everybody had their hand in it and it can’t happen for us to be as good as we want to be. Ever.“I can handle a drop every now and then, I can handle a guy beating you with a good pass rush move. I can handle certain things but I can’t handle mental (bleep)ups time and time again.Andy’s been a quarterback here for three (bleeping) years and hasn’t had one dropped snap. Not one. We had three in one day!!! Concentration, poise. You’ve got to have it every snap in this game otherwise you’re going to get your ass beat time and time again, you’re going to be 18th ranked in offense, you’re going to be 9-7 or 8-8 and you’re going to be (bleeping) watching the playoffs at home every year.“Yesterday we took a major step backwards and now today we’ve got to take two steps forward. You have to have great concentration, great attention to detail not just on Sunday’s. On Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s. If you want to muddle around at .500 (bleeping) then come out here and (bleep) around and (bleep) up. But if you want to be great you’ve got to set your standards high and you’ve got to come out and go at it every (bleeping) day.”"
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