Bloody Sundays. Inside the Rough and Tumble World of the NFL

An honest, uncensored look at the National Football League that captures the good, the bad, and the bloody. Award-winning sports reporter Michael Freeman goes were few civilians dare: inside the locker rooms, boardrooms, and everywhere in-between to offer an entertaining and provocative portrait of the National Football League. In Bloody Sundays he dissects the NFL, spotlighting the personalities and the politics that shape the game on and off the field, exploring how the game has influenced American life and culture, and identifying the issues and challenges facing the game today-from violence on the field to the maniacal coaching methods of Super Bowl winner Jon Gruden, to physical injury and longevity, to race and labor relations.
Here, too, are the legends, heroes, and plays that make the game what it is, including a groundbreaking exclusive interview with an active gay player. Part investigative journalism, part critical analysis, and part tribute, Bloody Sundays uniquely captures the entirety of the league in all its greatness and ugliness. What secrets lie behind the NFL's shield? An Active Gay Player Speaks Out: Read the groundbreaking, anonymous interview with "Steven Thompson, " an active NFL player who reveals the fear, isolation, and prejudice he faces in the hyper-macho world of pro football.
The Gruden Method: Step inside the 3:11 A. M. meetings and film sessions of coach Jon Gruden to understand the maniacal work ethic and obsessive genius that wins Super Bowls. Player Health in Crisis: Go beyond the official injury reports to explore the long-term impact of concussions, the abuse of painkillers, and the physical toll that breaks down the league's toughest men. The NFL's Unwritten Rules: From race and labor relations in the front office to the politics of the locker room, Freeman exposes the power structures and biases that truly shape the game.