Going Deep
How Wide Receivers Became the Most Compelling Figures in Pro Sports
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
How Wideouts Became the NFL's Standouts
From the time Cris Carter started his career as a supplemental draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987 to his retirement in 2002, the position of wide receiver exploded in the NFL. Receivers went from being quiet and classy to being known for their electric play, off-the-field antics, and -- in some cases -- over-the-top personalities.
In Going Deep, Carter and ESPN journalist Jeffri Chadiha chronicle the rise of the wide receiver and explain how it became the most complex, compelling, and talked-about position in all of professional sports. Using stories from his own career to offer unprecedented insight into the position, Carter explains the players' unique personalities, how their minds work, and why teams need to understand exactly what they're dealing with when it comes to their wideouts -- the NFL's newest superstars.
Told through Carter's opinionated voice, Going Deep covers all the important moments and people -- from Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice, and Keyshawn Johnson to Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Chad Johnson -- who have contributed to this revolution. He also tells stories readers have never heard about their favorite players, shares theories about the position that only get discussed in front offices and locker rooms, and offers revealing explanations on what these players mean to the league today, as well as why the NFL can't go forward without them.
"One of the most riveting, insightful football books I've ever read. This book takes you inside the huddle, along the sidelines, and deep into the secret world that is the NFL. Breathtaking work." -- Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of Boys Will Be Boys and The Bad Guys Won
"No one understands wide receivers better than Cris Carter, and I loved his book. If you want to understand how we think, and hear inside stories about the most over-the-top athletes in sports, read Going Deep." -- Jerry Rice, Hall of Fame wide receiver
"I am so glad someone got Cris Carter to sit down and describe what makes receivers tick. (It's deeper than you think.) You'll get to the last page of this book and say, 'I really learned a lot here--and the pages flew by.' " -- Peter King, senior writer, Sports Illustrated; author of Monday Morning Quarterback; and two-time National Sportswriter of the Year
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Before he became one of ESPN's innumerable NFL analysts, Carter was a Hall of Fame wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. Readers might expect prideful boasting disguised as analysis in this book, but never fear. Carter, with an assist from ESPN journalist Chadiha, lays down solid support for his claims in the book, mixing interviews from players and coaches (both current and former) with his own experiences. According to the author, during the 1990s, football changed. Teams needed to find ways to beat talented defensive players like Deion Sanders, who eliminated half the field, calling for a different kind of receiver. This produced a breed of tall, athletic players who were influenced by basketball, which fed TV coverage that was hungry for stars. The change affected teams (who invested money in busts like David Boston) and players (like Chad Johnson, who became consumed with his image). Carter devotes some space to his own career describing his relationships with two legendary receivers: Randy Moss, his temperamental teammate with the Vikings, and the mature Larry Fitzgerald, whom Carter first met as a teenager but ultimately this is a well-constructed, insightful look at the modernization of pro football. Two 8-page b&w photo inserts.
