Review of "Behind the Lines: A Veteran Quarterback’s Look Inside the NFL," by Don Strock and Harvey Frommer

 Review of

Behind the Lines: A Veteran Quarterback’s Look Inside the NFL, by Don Strock and Harvey Frommer ISBN 0886875390

Four out of five stars

Not terribly revelatory

 Don Strock played in the NFL for 17 years as a backup quarterback, 15 as a Miami Dolphin. While there, he backed up Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino. Other potent offensive weapons that he played with were Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, Larry Little and Paul Warfield. The head coach during those years was Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Playing for the Dolphins, Strock was on the team for three Super Bowl appearances.

Strock gives all of these players and coaches their just due, yet unlike many books by players in the major sports, he does not spend all of his time spilling out the dirt. While there were some points and actions that were tainted and unclean, they don’t dominate the book. He is also candid about how pervasive drugs were in the NFL, some of the dosages of pain killing drugs given to players were amazing.

 Most of the text is spent describing Strock’s actions on the sidelines and the designated person to send the next play into the quarterback as well as be ready on a moment’s notice to enter the offensive huddle. Strock was clearly a good player, his career stats are very good for a man that often had to go into a game cold and try to win it instead of simply play it out.

 While this book is an interesting and engaging read, it is not a page turner filled with tense and exciting moments. It reads more as a diary rather than a thriller.