Do we even know if the Cowboys were forced to do the show? According to this article, HBO was in discussions with several teams, including teams that couldn't be forced to be on the show. It says they picked the Cowboys and Jones was excited to be a part of it. Seems to me that they may not have forced the Cowboys to do it, Jerry may have volunteered them.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...thew-stafford-among-most-important-newcomers/
"I can say that there were a few teams that were in deep discussions, both on the list and off the list," Ken Rodgers,
NFL Films VP, tells CBS Sports. "In the end, it's like a calculus. It really becomes a three-way partnership between the team, HBO and NFL Films.
And the Cowboys felt like the right team this year. And certainly Jerry Jones and the Cowboys were excited to do it, because Mr. Jones is on the forefront of the league's effort to get us back on the field. What better way to rebound from America's tough 2020? America had a tough 2020, America's game had a tough 2020, and America's Team had a tough 2020, so it only feels right that we feature the Cowboys, who are representative of all of us in trying to make a better 2021."
"The Cowboys are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history and a team that elicits strong reactions from fans around the world," Rodgers added in a statement. "Tens of millions of fans love them, but just as many people love to hate them. Either way, when the Cowboys show up, people watch, which makes them perfect for 'Hard Knocks.' This year, their high-profile status as 'America's Team' is paired with uniquely interesting storylines.
We can't thank Mr. (Jerry) Jones and Coach (Mike) McCarthy enough for letting us tell the story behind what we hope is the beginning of an exciting year in Dallas."