Tuesday night brought the season finale of “Hard Knocks” with the Buffalo Bills.
The fifth and final episode chronicles the roster cuts, the practice squad returnees and the last bits of practice before the NFL season starts.
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The episode starts with DaQuan Jones talking to the defensive line at a dinner. Casey Rogers gets everyone to sign a football that he’ll keep as a memory of the team.
Audio from a podcast foretells that Rogers will be one of those cut the next day, one of 27 players.
There’s a follow-up interview with Rogers, who’s from the Syracuse area, about being cut before jumping to an interview with general manager Brandon Beane. The show does not document the moment of Rogers being cut itself.
“Never allow someone to tell you (that) you can’t do something,” Rogers tells the interviewer.
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Coach Sean McDermott calls it “the crappy side of the business.” Narrator Liev Schreiber calls it “grim.”
The show tells viewers that quarterbacks Shane Buechele and Mike White, running back Frank Gore Jr. and wide receiver K.J. Hamler have been let go.
Tight end Zach Davidson is next, with him detailing that it’s not his first time going through this process. There’s a shot of the name plate on his locker being taken down. Again, the conversations of the cuts themselves are not shown.
Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football
Bills defensive back Jimmy Ciarlo, left, celebrates a tackle against the Giants during a preseason game on Aug. 9. Ciarlo was cut then re-signed to the practice squad. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo says it was one of the best 18-day stretches of his life after getting cut.
Cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram is the first player who made the team to be profiled. Ingram shares one of his paintings ahead of journaling his goals. Linebacker Joe Andreessen talks about how blessed he is to make the team.
Inside the facility, Kyle Brandt interviews quarterback Josh Allen, who talks about crying at the end of “Sinners,” in which Hailee Steinfeld, his now wife, starred.
Then, it’s time for a Jordan Poyer reunion. Same with Jordan Phillips. The show includes a shot of Poyer at the airport before an interview with him in the car ride post-flight to a hotel.
“This is my safe space, where I feel me,” Poyer said.
It’s time for the Bills to form the practice squad. Gore, Buechele and Ciarlo are back, signing practice squad contracts. Bills vice president of football administration Kevin Meganck goes through the contracts with them, talking through elevations and pay.
In a team meeting, McDermott tells the practice squad players that they are truly members of the team. Sometimes, that will mean scout team.
“It may mean being a robot, but being a damn good robot,” McDermott says.
McDermott then has the team vote on captains, telling them all to vote for two.
Back at practice, Gore asks Travis Clayton, who is from England, if they eat “normal food” in London, as in chicken tenders. Clayton says yes.
It’s time for the group’s first practice as a formed team. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford catch up with Poyer and Phillips on the sideline, quipping about their ages.
After practice, Ciarlo FaceTimes his dad, James, from the stadium. Dad says it’s time to find ways to help the football team.
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“Who’s got it better than you?” James asks.
From there, it’s time to go line dancing with Bills running back Ty Johnson, who goes every Thursday night. And then it’s time for the Car Shnow with left tackle Dion Dawkins.
There are Bills teammates at Dawkins’ now-annual car show, from Ed Oliver to Connor McGovern. Dawkins fits himself into a tiny car and then a fire truck.
There’s a scene with Allen and the team’s social media staff, who often prank him. They ask him wild questions about his teammate’s heights in high school as they eat hot wings.
Back on the field, there are final practice shots.
“Josh Allen and the Bills are ready to rock in the season opener,” Schreiber says.
Allen and linebacker Terrel Bernard are informed that they’ve been voted captains as McDermott tells them now there are higher expectations.
“Right here, right now,” echoes in the background, before Schreiber asks viewers “where else would you rather be?”
The show ends with a close up of Allen smiling before rolling some bloopers.
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