Review of "The Dynasty"

This was one of the most anticipated sports books of the fall as it promised to tell the complete story of the New England Patriots dynasty.  It delivered on that promise as it did that and more.  Here is my review of "The Dynasty."

Title/Author:

“The Dynasty" by Jeff Benedict

Tags:

Football (American), professional, history, Patriots

Publish date:

September 1, 2020

Length:

587 pages

Rating:

4 ½ of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

The New England Patriots have built one of the longest lasting dynasties in professional sports, lasting 20 years built primarily around three people – owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichik and quarterback Tom Brady.  Together, those three brought the Patriots to the Super Bowl nine times, winning six of them and galvanizing millions of fans on one side or the other of being fans of the team.  This dynasty is captured in this lengthy but well-written book by Jeff Benedict. 

Something that will be noticed by readers soon after starting the 587 page book is that while a football team is the subject and the games they have played, including the Super Bowl, will be captured throughout the book, they will not be the primary focus of the book.  Much more space is devoted to the off-field activities of all three of these men, even Brady. At times, this is much more interesting than the games on the field.  One of the topics in which I believe the writing and storytelling is superb is how Kraft ended up owning the team, which was quite and adventure and nearly resulted in the team playing in Hartford instead of suburban Boston. 

Some of these stories are well-known – Brady becoming the starting quarterback only due to a serious injury to veteran signal caller Drew Bledsoe, Belichick becoming coach of the Patriots one day after being named coach of the rival New York Jets and the subsequent negotiations for compensation, "Spygate" when the Patriots were accused of illegally taping Jets coaches and "Deflategate" when the Patriots and specifically Brady were accused of deflating footballs below the required pressure in the 2015 AFC Championship game.  These and so many more stories about the team are told in a such a fresh and entertaining manner that readers who are avid fans of the team and know about these matters will still enjoy the book.

This review only scratches the surface of the information contained in this publication and Benedict pulls no punches.  He has many words about former coach Bill Parcells, the upset by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVII that kept the Patriots from enjoying a perfect season and the improbable comeback by New England in Super Bowl LI.  Readers who enjoy pro football, regardless of their fandom of the Patriots, should add this one to their reading lists.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Dynasty-Jeff-Benedict/dp/1982134100/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=  

 

Review of "Gridiron Genius"

Not only does August mean football training camps, it also means that the new books on the game are hitting the shelves.  I had mentioned earlier that several good ones are coming out soon - this is one that is a very good dive into the world of NFL coaching.  Here is my review of "Gridiron Genius"

Title/Author:

“Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL” by Michael Lombardi

Tags:

Football (American), professional, 49ers, Patriots, coaching

Publish date:

September 11, 2018

Length:

288 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

One of the most demanding jobs in all of sports is the head coach of an NFL team. It takes meticulous planning, people skills sharp enough to handle scores of large egos, attention to detail on everything from offensive plays to the menu for the training table and of course, intelligence. This book by Michael Lombardi tells how two of the greatest coaches in the history of the league, Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick, were able to build the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots respectively into the best teams of their era.

Lombardi breaks down the duties of the head coach into each aspect of building a team. Whether it is the madness that is draft day in the NFL, the rigors of training camp, game preparation, or the nuances of each unit, Lombardi tells the philosophy of these legendary coaches in each of these parts of the job in an informative and easy reading style. There are enough passages that are story-driven so that the reader can easily relate to some part of the anecdote even if they have never played or watched football.  The best example of a passage like this was when Lombardi was describing his driving duties for Walsh. The travel time was far from quiet – indeed, Lombardi was comparing it to the popular Carpool Karaoke skits.  However instead of singing, the two would be talking football and what the 49ers needed in order to improve.

If instead of stories, the reader is interested in hardcore football talk including strategy, game planning and execution, there is plenty of that type of writing as well.  For a novice or casual fan, this can be slightly overwhelming, especially when Lombardi is discussing Belichick’s eleven main points for defense.  Fortunately, it is written in the same style that can be digested easily by any reader, but those with a passion for the game will especially enjoy those chapters.  The chapter on Belichick’s game preparation, which takes the entire week and is started even before a playoff opponent is known, made for some of the best football reading in the entire book.

This book comes highly recommended for football fans of all levels, especially those who are highly knowledgeable about the intricacies of coaching and running a team. Lombardi’s various duties – everything from Walsh’s driver to searching for a head coach for the then-St. Louis Rams – will give the reader an inside look at the sport away from the field and into the war rooms of coaches.  

I wish to thank Penguin Random House for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Gridiron-Genius-Championships-Building-Dynasties/dp/052557381X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gridiron-genius-michael-lombardi/1127950403?ean=9780525573814#/

Review of "12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady's Fight for Redemption"

As this is the season when new football books are usually released, it isn't tough to find books on interesting football topics. This one piqued my interest about Tom Brady's comeback after his suspension in 2016, capped off by the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. While the subject matter was excellent, the book itself was just so-so for me.  Here is my review of "12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady's Fight for Redemption"

Title/Author:

“12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady’s Fight for Redemption ” by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge

Tags:

Football (American), professional, Patriots, biography, politics

Publish date:

July 31, 2018

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review:

Tom Brady has been the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots since the middle of the 2001 season. Since that point, he has led the team to eight Super Bowls, winning five of them and is now considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time. He and his team have also encountered their share of controversy. One of these episodes, widely known as “Deflategate”, had a profound effect on Brady, the Patriots and the commissioner’s office of the NFL. This controversy is chronicled in this book by investigative journalists Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge.

The book’s premise is that Brady had to not only endure the shame of being suspended for four games at the start of the 2016 season, he was given this suspension with flawed evidence of violating a rule that allegedly is not enforced regularly. Brady was accused of having Patriots’ equipment personnel deflate footballs below the minimum standard set by the league during the 2015 AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. The account of the whole affair – the game, the skullduggery behind the scenes, the investigation by the league and the hearing with lawyers from both the league and the player – is covered in full detail.

However, this fine writing is marred by the blatant bias the authors have for Brady’s case and the vitriol written about the league’s staff and Commissioner Roger Goodell. While Goodell may not be popular with football fans, the unmasked contempt the authors have for his handling of this case is clear.  This made the book feel like more of a long editorial piece than an account of the case.

The book also tells brief biographies of Brady, Patriots head coach Bill Belichek and owner Robert Kroft. Also in the book is a recap of Brady’s career as the Patriots quarterback, with recaps of some of his more memorable games such as the “Tuck Rule” game, his first Super Bowl win against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and of course, the game in which his redemption came, Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons.  The recap of this game was the best football passage in the book, but even here, it was choppy as the description of the game was broken up by numerous sidebar stories about other Patriots players such as James White and Julian Edelman.

Overall, this book covers the main topic, Tom Brady, quite well. But the lack of objectivity plus the jumping from topic to topic made this a less-than-enjoyable read.  It does get a favorable rating for the material covered and it is one that Brady and Patriots fans will enjoy, if for no other reason to recap the incredible comeback the team made in Super Bowl LI. If the reader is not a Brady or Patriots fan, then pass on this one.

I wish to thank Little, Brown and Company for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/12-Inside-Story-Bradys-Redemption-ebook/dp/B0785MML17/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/12-casey-sherman/1128330828?ean=9780316416382#/

Review of "Brady vs. Manning"

It's getting to be that time of year football fans are awaiting.  Training camps have opened, the games will be starting in a few weeks - and the new books are coming out soon as well.  One of the more eagerly anticipated books coming in September is about the two biggest stars of the game today.  I was fortunate enough to obtain an advance review copy and I couldn't wait to start it.  It is one that should be in a football fan's library once it is on sale.  Here is my review of "Brady vs. Manning"

Title/Author:

“Brady vs. Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL” by Gary Myers

Tags:

Football (American), Patriots, Colts, Broncos

Publish date:

September 22, 2015

Length:

272 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the two biggest names in professional football today.  They have matched up in some memorable games over the years, are fierce rivals on the field and have the utmost respect for each other.  Their careers took different paths.  Manning, after a stellar college career at Tennessee, was the first draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts and immediately was a professional starting quarterback.  Tom Brady, on the other hand, had limited time as a starting quarterback at Michigan, was a sixth round draft pick of the New England Patriots, and began his professional career as a backup to All-Pro quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

What happened before and afterward to both of these men is the subject of this excellent book written by well-respected football reporter Gary Myers.  Utilizing not only his access to Brady and Manning, but also his connections around the game, Myers covers the story of both men as only someone who knows football as well as he does.

Not only are the individual achievements and recaps of their NFL careers covered, both men are shown to have a playful side as their interactions with their family members and teammates reveal the true people both of them are.  It helps the reader to see their personalities beyond the accomplishments Brady and Manning have achieved.

Another aspect of the book that shows Myers’ knowledge and talent for writing is how well the book covers other issues that affected the two quarterbacks.  Whether it is talking to former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr on why Brady was not the starter during his entire time at Michigan, Colts owner Jim Irsay on the somber departure of Manning to the Denver Broncos, or the saga on how Manning could have been the quarterback of the New York Jets had he left Tennessee a year earlier, Myers writes in a manner that is both intelligent for hard-core football fans, yet simple enough so that non-fans or casual fans can easily understand what was happening.

The Brady-Manning era of football is compared to other eras in other sports where two legends would be rivals, such as Larry Bird – Magic Johnson, Joe Frazier – Muhammad Ali and Ted Williams – Joe DiMaggio.  Myers is careful not to tip his hand as to his opinion of who he believes is better and instead lets others talk up the one they prefer.  Seeing this balanced coverage and praise for both quarterbacks made the book an excellent source of information on both men and is one that I would highly recommend for any football fan, no matter his or her level of interest in the game.

I wish to thank publisher for providing an advance review copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pace of the book:

It was a quick read, as it wasn’t too much about the intricacies of the game and read like a collection of stories that illustrated both men in a positive manner.

Do I recommend? 

This book would be enjoyed by readers who enjoy football as the two most recognizable players in the game are both portrayed in a manner that is easy to read and entertaining.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links (pre-order at time of review):

http://www.amazon.com/Brady-Manning-Untold-Rivalry-Transformed-ebook/dp/B00TWEH4UE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438221038&sr=1-1&keywords=brady+manning  

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brady-vs-manning-gary-myers/1121371965?ean=9780804139373