The Sports Xchange

Training camp just became a “Hard Knocks” life for the Houston Texans on Wednesday.

One of three finalists for the summertime documentary series, the Texans were informed they would be the franchise featured on the HBO program with filming to start the last week of July.

Second-year coach Bill O’Brien is a former Bill Belichick assistant who tends to be guarded with media. He has not commented on access or any aversion to the show, and the Texans emerged as the favorites for the 10th edition of HBO’s series as others bowed out.

The Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins were the other finalists.

The Cleveland Browns were in the mix but the team had concerns that the HBO reality series would focus on quarterback Johnny Manziel, a first-round pick in 2014 who spent most of his offseason in a rehab facility, and their request to not be on the show was granted.

NFL Films, which produces the series, did not want an unwilling participant.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is the kind of player the NFL would want to be showcased on “Hard Knocks.”

Texans owner Bob McNair was required to sign off on his team making its first appearance on “Hard Knocks.” McNair said in March that he was considering an offer from HBO.