OT: Johnny Anonymous Football Book

Submitted by Monkey House on

A current player has written a book called "NFL Confidential" which exsposes a lot of dirty things about the NFL. I actually started this thread to see if anyone has read it or if they heard him on the Opie and Jim show on Sirius/XM?? They gave some clues on who wrote this controversial book and I'll just say it's a player we all know well around here.

 

Anyways if anyone has read the book I would like to hear some more about it.

MGoBoard

Wolfman

January 12th, 2016 at 3:10 AM ^

If it's, indeed, a M graduate, it is the gospel and should not be questioned. I mean....like wtf?  Accept it, embrace it, learn from it. To do otherwise is well...........just un Michigan like.

Joined: 07/23/2008

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Jon06

January 12th, 2016 at 3:48 AM ^

The big problem with running a corrupt organization is the number of people that you need to lie for you. Eventually somebody with integrity comes along and tells it like it is. Good for him.

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Spunky

January 12th, 2016 at 4:23 AM ^

I read the sample, and Johnny Anonymous starts the book by saying the NFL will destroy him if identified. It seems like Molk would claim to play a different position, not O-line, and give an inaccurate time in the league. This is the worst blind item ever if only names were changed. Someone should ask Ryan Mathews if he ever showed up to practice buck naked...

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cbuswolverine

January 12th, 2016 at 4:28 AM ^

Nah.  It's clearly Molk.  It's not just the position, year, etc.  He talks about personal stuff like his mother dying when he was kid.  He knows what he's doing.  He's playing the long game here.  He probably figures he has/had at best a few years left in the league, anyway.

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DrewGOBLUE

January 12th, 2016 at 5:14 AM ^

Well, he says in the NPR interview that his mother passed away before he began playing football. However, that's quite the contrary according to this segment of a Michigan Daily article:

“The whole game, all I could do was turn around and look at my mom,” Dave said 10 years later, blinking back tears. “It was so scary. The cancer was fully in effect. That was right near the end of the season, when it was the worst.”

Late in the game, Dave's team rumbled down to the five-yard line.

“Molk,” coach Jeff Christiansen barked. “You’re in at tailback. Go ahead and score.”

For the two-way lineman, this was a first. He lined up four yards behind the quarterback and took the first-down handoff — stuffed. Second down — stuffed.

On third down, Dave knocked straight through the line and fell into the endzone.

Without a second thought, he picked himself up and kept running. He ran through the gate at the back of the endzone, around the cement sidewalk and all the way up the hill. Glassy-eyed, he handed the football to his mother.

“This is for you, Mom.”

Gail never let that football go.


https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/dave-molk

So not only did his mom watch him play, but it seems like the game had a profound role in his relationship with his mother leading up to her passing.

Then again, this may be something where Molk intentionally altered some details.

Joined: 12/03/2011

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bacon

January 12th, 2016 at 6:05 AM ^

He says specifically in that interview that his mom died before he was 10. Molk's mom died three days before he turned 13. It could be to protect the identity, but in the interview the guy is so forthcoming, I'd like to believe he's being factually accurate. Therefore, it's probably not Molk.

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Everyone Murders

January 12th, 2016 at 8:28 AM ^

Why shouldn't this player be entitled to criticize the hypocrisy of the NFL?  Interviews like this help foment positive change in a sport that is littered with broken ex-players. 

This player has invested enormous resources chasing the NFL dream, and when he got there, he found it to be a charade.  Good for him for going public on this - it's not like there are a bunch of other viable football options out there, and by his own words his focus at college was on becoming an NFL player.

I don't get this "suck it up" attitude (as expressed by M Go Cue) at all. 

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M Go Cue

January 12th, 2016 at 8:53 AM ^

I don't believe I ever said "suck it up", but it just doesn't sit well with me that someone would continue taking the big paycheck when they can easily leave their dangerous occupation at any time. I would have more respect for this individual if he would retire, write the book, and then put his name on it.

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Everyone Murders

January 12th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

I didn't mean for that to be taken as an exact quote.  "Suck it up" seemed a fair paraphrase for "(i)f he hates the NFL so much stop taking their money".  It still does seem like a fair paraphrase, but maybe I'm missing a nuance in your point.

That stated, it is not necessarily realistic to tell a person who has invested their youth into becoming an NFL player to "walk away"* when they find that the NFL is duplicitous and reckless with respect to their health.  These guys typically have a 3-5 year earning window to maximize their earnings.  I'm sure that once this guy's window is closed, he'll be happy to disclose his identity. 

*Paraphrase!

 

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M Go Cue

January 12th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^

Perhaps I wasn't completely clear. I have no problem with the book, but if it is Molk, he has a degree and plenty of other options in which he can earn a good living without playing a dangerous sport. My problem is that he doesn't seem to be bothered enough to stop talking those NFL paychecks or the free education. And also, put your name on it.

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Everyone Murders

January 12th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^

The median Michigan undergrad income out of school is $59,400 (per payscale.com).* 

The median NFL pay is $2.11M.  (Big lead sports - per Google hit).

So this player should take a 96% +/- pay cut so that he can talk openly?  You're entitled to that opinion, but most folks would want to keep their head fairly low.

(Also, he does not complain about college at all, so I don't get your argument that he should not have taken the free education.)

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M Go Cue

January 12th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^

I understand his desire to remain anonymous, but if you're willing to take their money when you have other options, and still want to slam your employer, that's where I have the problem. Football is a dangerous game. It was dangerous when he played it in high school, in college, and in the pros. These players often come to the NFL with over ten years of football wear on their bodies already. There are a ton of upsides to being an elite football player but it is clear that it often comes at a price. He has made the decision that at least right now the benefits outweigh the risks, and other than completely changing the way in which this game is played, it's not going to become a "safe" sport.

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club_med

January 12th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

I get the reaction against the perceived hypocrisy, but to say that if you don't like what the organization you work for does, your obligation is to quit before you can criticize it is a pretty strong position. Especially given that its the thing they've been training to do all their lives, they perceive they aren't especialy qualified to do anything else, and they only have a brief period in which they can make any money doing it.

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DakotaBlue

January 12th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^

The player, whomever he is, is quite clear about why he keeps playing: he absolutely loves the game. He hates the NFL as an organization but loves playing football. Walking away from it is very hard.

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bacon

January 12th, 2016 at 5:58 AM ^

The problem is that if it's not Molk, it would be unfair for him to get negative effects on his career over it. Not that the NFL is fair.

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CRISPed in the DIAG

January 12th, 2016 at 7:16 AM ^

Are there more revelations than painkillers and domestic violence? This is pretty familiar stuff. I'm glad someone I'd stepping out - especially if it hurts Goodell - but I'm hoping for more or better detail. A few more smoking guns.

Joined: 11/08/2010

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Swayze Howell Sheen

January 12th, 2016 at 7:20 AM ^

apparently Michigan Men can write

Another good example:

  If I Don't Six (link) by Elwood Reid

A great read but not too flattering of college football or the culture around it, or even the fictionalized "Coach Ro".

Joined: 10/05/2008

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ish

January 12th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^

Yet (and this could be intentional) the word choice and speaking style is somewhat inconsistent with the limited number of previous interviews Molk gave while here.



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