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Playmakers

How the NFL Really Works (and Doesn't)

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Playmakers

By: Mike Florio
Narrated by: Dan Woren
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About this listen

The story of a modern NFL that can’t get out of its own way—and can’t stop making money

In recent decades, the NFL has simultaneously become an athletic, financial, and cultural powerhouse—and a League that can’t seem to go more than a few weeks without a scandal. Whether it’s about domestic violence, performance-enhancing drugs, racism, or head trauma, the NFL always seems to be in some kind of trouble. Yet no matter the drama, the TV networks keep showing games, the revenue keeps rising, and the viewers keep tuning in.

How can a sports league—or any organization—operate this way? Why do the negative stories keep happening, and why don’t they ever seem to affect the bottom line? In this wide-ranging book, Mike Florio takes listeners from the boardroom to the locker room, from draft day to the Super Bowl, answering these questions and more, and showing what really goes on in the sport that America can’t seem to quit.

​Known for his constant stream of new information and incisive commentary, Florio delivers again in this book. With new insights and reporting on scandals past and present, this book will be the talk of the League—whether the League likes it or not.

©2022 Mike Florio (P)2022 PublicAffairs Football (American) Social Sciences

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All stars
Most relevant  
hugely enjoyable and massively informative, esp for those not deeply deeply ingrained in NFL. beautiful writing and superb analysis/commentary. and read with wonderful clarity and personality on the audiobook.

Fascinating

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The level of behind the scenes detail that Mike went into provided me with a vast appreciation for the players that make it in the NFL. Anyone that has an interest in the sport, this book or audio book is a must read or listen.

Good Book

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A thorough, thoughtful dive into the machinations of the modern NFL. Funny, poignant, and entertaining. Highly recommended.

Excellent and deeply informative

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I sometimes find myself at odds with Mike's takes, especially when he is taking aim at my beloved Arizona Cardinals. But regardless, he is a talented author, with interesting and thought provoking opinions, and Playmakers is a tremendous book, and wonderful listen.

A tremendously good listen

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As someone who enjoys PFT i was really looking forward to this book, however i was left feeling massively dissapointed!

The book is split into a large number of topics, which range from the draft to the future of the game. However, what quickly becomes apparent is the authors complete hatred for those that run the league. Fair enough, in certain respects that contempt could possibly be justified. But the same repetitive whinging just becomes tiresome.

The last segment about The Future should be renamed 'The future of legalised gambling'. If i wanted to listen to a book about that subject then I would have bought one.

All in all, just a huge letdown!

Massive Dissapointment

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loved it until the author went overboard on gambling.

far too much of the second half goes onto hypothetical ramblings about a regulator due to "wagering "

a book of two halves

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I have been a PFT reader for about a decade, so i was definitely interested when Florio started promoting this book of his, and having little else to use a monthly credit on i gave it a go.

This is a very middle of the road book, It lacks any overarching structure, there is a lot of times you catch yourself realizing that the same things are being said over and over, however just slightly different, as if this is a 4th grade book report with a minimum character limit.

All in all it just feels like reading a string of PFT-styled essays that occasionally talk down to you as a reader, but without any really coherent story to tell, I for one will continue to read PFT - but i can not really recommend this book, unless you are VERY new to the NFL.

Quite mediocre

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