Hard Knocks Ep. 3 is a dud for former Kentucky Wildcats

We didn’t know how good we had it, did we? Man, what a disappointment Hard Knocks Ep. 3 was — at least in terms of Kentucky Wildcats earning real screentime. The first week was all about Maxwell Hairston joining the Buffalo Bills as a plug-and-play first-round talent and the unfortunate knee injury he suffered to open training camp. From there, it was the Ray Davis Show in week two, highlighting his kicking talent as the team’s emergency backup on game day. He even knocked one through the uprights in a preseason game! The Deone Walker appearances have been few and far between, but maybe the Dancing Bear was ready for his primetime debut this go-round?

Negative, Ghost Rider.

All three former Wildcats technically showed up, but not in speaking roles. Well, I suppose that’s not technically true — Hairston got to talk to two-time Pro Bowl corner Tre’Davious White about his disgusting socks.

“My shoes are wet and them ******* are heavy now,” White told the former Wildcat. “I hate that my body is like this, bro.”

“You put a lot of years in on this ****,” Hairston responded.

“It ain’t that I’ve put a lot of years in to be sweating like this. I hate that ****, I can’t even plant and break,” White said, wringing out a ridiculous amount of sweat from his socks before the equipment staff brought him a new “Dollar General” pair, as he described them.

“All in a day’s work, Max. All in a day’s work, brother. Love this **** — the rookie and the vet.”

You know it’s a rough episode when that is the highlight.

The rest of the show was about star running back James Cook signing his lucrative extension with the Bills, joint practices with the Bears, defensive tackle Ed Oliver’s passion for horseback riding, the improv scene in Chicago and Buffalo’s 38-0 preseason loss.

A lot of crowd shots during film breakdowns — hey, look! Big Deone!

A lot of disappointing highlights from the Bears dominating the Bills, including one shot of Davis getting popped in the backfield for a loss.

Maybe a more flattering image of No. 22 in action? (Even though the play resulted in an incompletion to bring out the punt team.)

Things turn for the better ever-so-slightly as Walker starts getting after it in the trenches, an outstretched arm away from two sacks on the scrambling Tyson Bagent, but the backup QB kept finding ways to break free and make plays.

Big Deone finally got there on one, jumping and reaching up with his massive frame to earn the QB hurry, then getting his hands on Bagent to force the incompletion — initially ruled a forced fumble and returned for a touchdown before being overturned.

Walker didn’t get the sack in the box score, but it looked good on film.

Annnnnnnnnd, that’s it.

I know I’m being greedy after two excellent weeks of content for BBN to enjoy, HBO, but you can’t set an expectation of greatness and follow it up with a dud. Let’s try again next Tuesday evening — maybe we’ll finally get some real Deone Walker love? The big fella deserves it.

See you next week, folks.