Fitzgerald Cecilio

After a one-year absence, HBO's football reality show "Hard Knocks" will return with a new team in focus.

Miami head coach Joe Philbin confirmed Tuesday that the Dolphins will replace their AFC East rivals New York Jets as the stars of the show.

The NFL and HBO have chosen the Dolphins to be the team that will allow the cameras to go behind the scenes for five one-hour episodes that will debut August 7th and will run each subsequent Tuesday.

"On the 40th anniversary of the greatest season in NFL history -- Don Shula's perfect '72 Dolphins -- it is perfectly fitting that Hard Knocks is heading to Miami to capture the start of a new era for one of the league's proudest teams," NFL Films president Steve Sabol told nfl.com.

The show was cancelled last year due to the NFL lockout. In 2010, the show focused on the Jets, making coach Rex Ryan a reality star in the process.

"Number one it was a football decision and it was made by the football operations staff," Philbin told miamidolphins.com, adding that team owner Steve Ross fully supports their decision.

Philbin also clarified that the team was not forced "in no way, shape or form" to accept the reality TV stint.

"It's a football show and it's a show that's going to showcase our players and the great group of men that we have assembled here in Miami as they go through training camp," he added.

Philbin said the show will help the Dolphins connect with their fans and give them a chance to watch players participate in training camp.

"I think it's a chance for us to show the new direction, the identity of this football team, where we're headed and at the same time also connect with our past and the great history, tradition and heritage that we have here in Miami," Philbin added.

Philbin doesn't plan to do anything different in practice or the meeting rooms just because the cameras are there.

Four current members of the Dolphins have been on Hard Knocks in the past -- defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback David Garrard(Jaguars), general manager Jeff Ireland (Chiefs) and linebacker Jamaal Westerman (New York Jets).

Dolphins Replace Rivals Jets on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' - NFL 2012