5. Anthony Lynn, Hard Knocks star
Coaches always get a pretty decently sized starring role on Hard Knocks as we’ve seen in recent years. Jon Gruden and Hue Jackson’s interesting coaching styles both were showcased on the program in recent years.
Lynn was the clear star of this episode over any player. The episode opened with him telling what seemed to be the entire LA Chargers’ team on a zoom call that he was infected with coronavirus.
It was a potent moment where Lynn once again stressed the idea of being the team that handles the virus the best. He also sat down with a sports psychologist to discuss his diagnosis and how he figured out that he had coronavirus later in the episode.
#Chargers HC Anthony Lynn says in the opening minutes of Hard Knocks that he had tested positive for COVID-19. "I can’t promise you, you aren’t going to get infected… I got infected.”
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) August 12, 2020
Lynn was also very serious about discussing the various social justice movements going on in the country. He’s been all about players using their platforms from the start, specifically getting involved in local politics. In addition to Lynn’s leadership on this issue, we also saw a conversation about kneeling for the anthem with Cole Mazza, Justin Jackson, Drue Tranquill, special teams coach George Stewart, and Taylor.
There were also quite a few lighthearted Lynn moments. He pocketed Derwin James’ Oakleys after saying he couldn’t give them back due to contamination. After the aforementioned meeting in which he told Vollert that he was being released, he had some fun banter with Telesco as well. “I just like the fact that he was like ‘you got to be f****** kidding me!’ I was like hold up now, you ain’t Antonio Gates”
All in all, Lynn was the star of this episode. I’d be down to come over to Coach’s house for a BBQ as well. He’s got some old school style brisket preparation.
Overall, I was impressed that Hard Knocks ended up being a pretty close 50/50 split between the Chargers and Rams. In fact, it felt like it had slightly more of a LA Chargers’ focus. Let me know your favorite moments from the first week of Hard Knocks down in the comments below!