Synopses & Reviews
Football is a sport steeped in a culture of violence, intimidation, and brutality, but players have learned to navigate through the minefield of its physical demands by adhering to an honor code of sportsmanship known simply as the code. As mysterious as it is sacred, the code is an unwritten set of rules that has been handed down from generation to generation. While the code has been around since the early days of the National Football League, it remains a taboo subject shrouded in secrecy. Under the threat of penalties, fines, and suspensions, players have to use stealth and ingenuity when retaliating against dirty players out on the field. Sure, bench clearing brawls will occur from time to time, but most of the revenge that goes on is behind the scenes. Patience must be exercised when settling old scores, and the veterans will wait until the time is right to exact the justice they feel fits the crime. While the game has changed immensely over the years, one thing remains the same--the players still police themselves. They know that if they break the rules of the code, then there will be hell to pay. At its core, football is all about respect and disrespect, and if a teammate is cheap-shotted, blind-sided, or is chopped at the knees, then the wheels of retaliation will be set into motion. The code is not just about head-slaps, verbal taunting, and the many unseen horrors that can occur under the pile. It is also about running up the score late on a team, excessive celebrations, head-hunting after interceptions, bounties, eye-gouging, and rookie initiations. The old adage if you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin has always applied out on the gridiron and includes things such as stick-um, siliconed jerseys, cold showers, and of course, steroids. And let's not forget all of the espionage that goes on both on and off the field as well. Everything from Spygate to dummy play-books to lip-reading is fair game--unless you get caught.
Synopsis
An in-depth and behind the scenes to explore the history of football's unspoken expectations of all who are involved with the game each Sunday, this engaging look the inner workings of the sport of football includes interviews with more than 100 current and former NFL players, coaches, front office employees and media personalities to examine how players go about their business on the field of play. They explain why various rules are expected among players and what tactics are used during games. This work discusses the top controversies on the gridiron, including the New England Patriots illegally taping the Jets defensive coaches' signals in 2007, wide receivers and defensive backs using stickum to help catch balls, offensive linemen using silicone to make it difficult for defensive players to grab their jersey, how Tony Mandarich beat steroid testing during his playing days, and Lawrence Taylor's career-ending hit on Joe Theismann on Monday Night Football in 1985. In addition to analyzing the reasons for controversial actions in football, Ross Bernstein elaborates further by covering the unspoken code of players, coaches, and even the referees.
Synopsis
An in-depth and behind the scenes to explore the history of football's unspoken expectations of all who are involved with the game each Sunday, this engaging look the inner workings of the sport of football includes interviews with more than 100 current and former NFL players, coaches, front office employees and media personalities to examine how players go about their business on the field of play. They explain why various "rules" are expected among players and what tactics are used during games. This work discusses the top controversies on the gridiron, including the New England Patriots illegally taping the Jets defensive coaches' signals in 2007, wide receivers and defensive backs using stickum to help catch balls, offensive linemen using silicone to make it difficult for defensive players to grab their jersey, how Tony Mandarich beat steroid testing during his playing days, and Lawrence Taylor's career-ending hit on Joe Theismann on Monday Night Football in 1985. In addition to analyzing the reasons for controversial actions in football, Ross Bernstein elaborates further by covering the unspoken code of players, coaches, and even the referees.
About the Author
Ross Bernstein is the bestselling author of 40 sports books and has appears frequently on local and national television and radio programs. His work has been featured on CNN, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. As a sought-after motivational speaker, he speaks to corporations and groups across the country about the inspirational legacy of the late Herb Brooks, Hall of Fame coach of the fabled 1980 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic "Miracle on Ice" hockey team. He lives in Eagan, Minnesota. Ahmad Rashad is a professional sportscaster and a former NFL player. Jerome Bettis is a former NFL running back who is currently fifth on the NFLand#8217;s all-time rushing list. Mike Dika is a former NFL player and coach and sports broadcaster.