300 Pounds of Attitude

One fall night in TK, Steve Sabol of NFL Films answered the door to see his friend, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Tim "Rosso" Rossovich, standing there literally on fire. After Sabol knocked Rossovich to the ground and put out the fire, Rosso stood up and (without missing a beat) said, "Sorry, I must have the wrong apartment." Pro football has been filled with players like this—loose cannons, rebels and trash talkers. Some players are more likeable than others, and some might even be certifiably crazy…yet what perfectly sane athlete signs up to get belted around by 300-pound behemoths for three hours every Sunday? Why Dick Butkus claims his reputation for meanness—which includes biting a referee's finger—was blown way out of proportion How dumping Gatorade on a winning coach became a postseason tradition Who "He Hate Me" was, and exactly why "He" hated him. From sideline spats to touchdown celebrations to draft day tales, 300 Pounds of Attitude reveals the true stories of the most entertaining figures that have played the game of professional football. One fall night in TK, Steve Sabol of NFL Films answered the door to see his friend, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Tim "Rosso" Rossovich, standing there literally on fire. After Sabol knocked Rossovich to the ground and put out the fire, Rosso stood up and (without missing a beat) said, "Sorry, I must have the wrong apartment." Pro football has been filled with players like this—loose cannons, rebels and trash talkers. Some players are more likeable than others, and some might even be certifiably crazy…yet what perfectly sane athlete signs up to get belted around by 300-pound behemoths for three hours every Sunday? In 300 Pounds of Attitude, author Jonathan Rand takes us into the huddle, on the sidelines, and behind the scenes to reveal the most offbeat and hilarious stories from the NFL. Why Dick Butkus claims his reputation for meanness—which includes biting a referee's finger—was blown way out of proportion How dumping Gatorade on a winning coach became a postseason tradition Who "He Hate Me" was, and exactly why "He" hated him. From sideline spats to touchdown celebrations to draft day tales, 300 Pounds of Attitude reveals the true stories of the most entertaining figures that have played the game of professional football.

Jonathan Rand is the author of Fields of Honor: The Pat Tillman Story. He was a sports columnist for 15 years and covered the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the Dolphins for the Miami News and the Miami Herald.