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Steelers 1 of several teams considered for HBO's ‘Hard Knocks'

PITTSBURGH — Could the Steelers peel back the curtain and let the whole world see all their secrets as the focus of a national TV show this season?

Sure, they don't seem like the kind of team that would welcome HBO cameras to training camp, but Channel 11's Bill Phillips found out Coach Tomlin's crew may not have a choice.

If no one volunteers, the NFL picks a team to be featured on the hit show “Hard Knocks.”

There are three ways to get out of being forced to do the show (all of which do NOT apply to the Black & Gold):

-Having been on the show in the last 10 seasons

-Having a new head coach

-Making the playoffs in the past two seasons

Phillips learned there are eight teams that fit this model, and the Steelers are one of them.

“I guess it’d be cool. I watched when the Dolphins were on it and the Bengals. It’d be something I’m interested in. It wouldn’t bother me if they were here at practice,” running back Le’Veon Bell said Thursday.

The team is used to being in the national spotlight with a large slate of primetime games each season, but this is a different kind of spotlight.

“If they do, good for them. I’m sure we got some characters on this team that will enjoy filming,” safety Mike Mitchell said. “But I’m just going to have my nose in my playbook and making football plays on Sunday.”

What do you think? Would it be cool to see what life is like on and off the field in Latrobe? Or would the cameras simply be too much of a distraction? Like our official WPXI-TV Facebook page and join the conversation.