Riddell Presents The Gridiron S Greatest Linebackers

This ranking of the top 25 pro linebackers of all time features stories about their greatest games, toughest opponents, and larger-than-life personalities, from the "Monsters of the Midway" to Ray Lewis.

NFL coaches love to say that quarterbacks always get too much credit for winning or too much blame for losing. Football fans know better. The great quarterbacks are difference makers. They make the split-second decisions that produce big plays, elevate their teammates, and lead the way to Super Bowl glory. The great quarterback is, in short, the most irreplaceable player on the field. The San Francisco 49ers could not have won their first four Super Bowls without Joe Montana, a genius at picking apart defenses and pulling out last-minute victories. The Pittsburgh Steelers would not have won four Super Bowls in six years without the powerful arm and irrepressible leadership of Terry Bradshaw. The New York Jets could never have pulled off the most famous NFL upset of all time, a Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts, without the swagger and skill of Broadway Joe Namath. He guaranteed a victory, then made good on his guarantee. In Riddell Presents The Gridiron's Greatest Quarterbacks, fans will meet the legendary field generals who grace the annals of professional football. Author Jonathan Rand ranks the top 25 quarterbacks of all time and recalls the greatest triumphs, extraordinary talents, and powerful personalities that made them and their teams winners. From Sammy Baugh and Sid Luckman, who put the quarterback position on the map, to Bart Starr, John Unitas, Bradshaw. Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino and Brett Favre, these are players of diverse skills, sizes, and temperaments who each arrived at the destination of greatness. Rand also details the rise of the African-American quarterbacks, who overcame decades of racism and cynicism to make their mark, the trade secrets of thegreat comeback quarterbacks, and how it feels to get buried under enormous defensive players and be the most marked man on the field. Through the words of these great quarterbacks and their teammates, coaches and opponents, readers will gain an understanding as to why the gridiron's greatest quarterbacks and the gridiron's greatest players are so often the same people.

New and old tales alike bring back special memories and reveal a part of what makes the Green Bay Packers more than just a football team to the many fans of the storied franchise.

Playing professional football is a dream for many—but it's also a high-pressure, grueling job. If you're the pro player on the field, millions of people are scrutinizing your every play, expecting you to make your blocks, outsmart your opponents, move the ball to your end zone, and score. To play at 100 percent on Sundays, you are constantly preparing for the next game—practicing, lifting weights, going to meetings, or watching video. Throughout the year, you must also maintain your fitness through proper workouts, rest, and nutrition. Playing in the pros is an incredible challenge. But for those who suit up on Sundays, the journey is totally worth it. This book, which was reviewed by six-year National Football League (NFL) veteran Michael Lehan, offers an authentic look at what life is like as a pro football player. You'll learn: • How players climb the ranks to reach the NFL • What daily life is like for an NFL player • How NFL players prevent and treat injuries Go behind the scenes and see what it's really like to be an NFL star!

Each year, more than 575 awards and trophies are presented to college football players and coaches around the country. This comprehensive reference offers detailed descriptions of each of these awards followed by a full list of winners through 2010. All levels of competition are covered, including the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, NCCAA and community and junior college championships. From major honors like the Heisman Trophy, to level-specific awards such as the NCAA Division I Lou Groza Award, to conference prizes like SEC Offensive Player of the Year, this work celebrates the highest accolades of college football and the talented men upon whom they have been bestowed.

The result of 15 years of exhaustive research, this work is the definitive statistical and factual reference for everything related to college football in the past 50 years.