Read this book is you want some insider info on what American football was like in the 1960's. Its got great stories, written succinctly in journalist style. George Plimpton is a lot like another author I like, A.J. Jacobs. They both undertake interesting challenges, like Jacobs' A Year of Living Biblically or The Know-It-All. In this book, Plimpton tries his hand at quarterbacking, and tries to cram the one hundred plays, the footwork, plus what his teammates are doing into his head. He writes about rookie initiation night and the hassling, different types of coaches, injuries, and life after the game. Plimpton namedrops great players and coaches like Bobby Layne, Night Train Lane, Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Dick LeBeau, etc. The book is really about how football inspires such loyalty and how the players played, not for the money, but for the camaraderie and the teamwork. A fun read for a football fan, even a novice one.

Quotes:
"Well, one of the nicknames for him is Tippy-Toes – hard to believe, I mean fellow standing still looks like he's sunk in the ground. But then he takes one step and you can spot that he's all springs and coils inside." Pietrosante on Alex Karras (page 181)

"That's a good number you're wearing," Williams said. "Johnny Olszewski's - Johnny O's." "It indicates my talent," I said." (page 218)