We’re two episodes into the highly anticipated “Hard Knocks” series on HBO, featuring five hour-long episodes of the New York Jets training camp.

Let’s check out some of the buzz from the series thus far:

Rex Ryan and His Foul-Mouthed Motivation

Anyone who watched the first installment of “Hard Knocks” received a wake-up call within the opening minutes of the program.

Much has been made over the last week about New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan’s profanity laced motivational speech to his players upon entering training camp.  I would have placed the video here, but in no way would I feel comfortable putting the video on my site.

It was almost as if Ryan purposely wanted to set the tone for the series by going over the top with his foul language.  His defense was that he talks the way football players talk, and is able to reach them successfully.  Well, we’ll see how many “f—– wins” he has at the end of the season.

Braylon, Sr. has more hair on his chin than Braylon, Jr. does on his head.

Former Colts coach and current NBC analyst Tony Dungy went after Ryan for his over-the-top speech, and rightfully so.  The NFL has become America’s most popular sport, and there’s no need for a loose-lip like Ryan to inject doubt into the mind of the fans regarding their stewardship of the game. 

Of course, the series is on HBO.  But this is more a matter of public presentation than personal choice.  There’s lots of things that people do at home that they will never do on public television.  And Ryan would have been better off had he followed that script instead of the flaky one that he produced.

Braylon Edwards Looks Like Baron Davis and Kimbo Slice

Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards finally found something as big as his ego.

His beard.

The five-year NFL veteran (entering his second season with New York) has grown his beard to Ricky Williams-Baron Davis-Kimbo Slice status.  Perhaps the beard, who has now eclipsed a length of six inches, can help a player who was infamous for dropping passes.  In 2008, with the Cleveland Browns, Edwards led the league with 16 dropped passes.  Perhaps his new growth can provide resistance to prevent the ball from bouncing away him, thereby giving him enough time to secure it and tuck it away.

But don’t mention anything about his past to him.  He feels that he was never a fit for Cleveland, but rather that he was suited for New York:

“There’s nothing going on in Cleveland. There’s no real estate. There’s no social life, no social networking. All the people who have something going on leave Cleveland. So Cleveland has nothing, and I came in there with a New York-type of essence. So what? That was the attitude I came in with. Like, this is who I am. They didn’t like the flash.”

Well, I don’t think it’s very hard for any team to part with a wide receiver who can’t receive. Maybe if Edwards would have grown his beard in Cleveland, the fans would actually care that he’s gone.

Antonio Cromartie Has Kids…A Lot of Them

The latest installment of “Hard Knocks” showcased a brief segment on newly acquired (former All-Pro) cornerback Antonio Cromartie.  The guy has limitless ability on the gridiron and…as evidenced by last night’s episode, he must have some talent off the field as well.

Cromartie was casually discussing the commitment that it takes to balance the effects of football and family life, when he revealed that he has his own commitment issues.  Well, he didn’t really admit it, but this clip did:

From my count, that’s about 5-6 kids spanning the ages of two and three years of age. 

In case you were wondering, they aren’t sextuplets, quintuplets or quadruplets – as he so eloquently explained when recalling their names and birthdays.  The former Charger has definitely been a busy man and the Jets are helping him more forward.

Hopefully, they’re not enabling him to fill a little league roster on his own.