The Code: Football's Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-At-Your-Own-Risk Code of Honor

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Football is a sport steeped in a culture of violence, intimidation, and brutality, but players have learned to navigate through the minefield of its physical demands by adhering to an honor code of sportsmanship known simply as “the code.” As mysterious as it is sacred, the code is an unwritten set of rules that has been handed down from generation to generation. While the code has been around since the early days of the National Football League, it remains a taboo subject shrouded in secrecy. Under the threat of penalties, fines, and suspensions, players have to use stealth and ingenuity when retaliating against dirty players out on the field. Sure, bench clearing brawls will occur from time to time, but most of the revenge that goes on is behind the scenes. Patience must be exercised when settling old scores, and the veterans will wait until the time is right to exact the justice they feel fits the crime. While the game has changed immensely over the years, one thing remains the same—the players still police themselves.

Football's unwritten rules exposed in "THE CODE"
Is it home field advantage when a snowplow clears the way for a 3-0 home-team win in the NFL, or is it rule-breaking beyond belief? There isn't anything written that says "no snow plows" so you find yourself now caught up in THE CODE: FOOTBALL'S UNWRITTEN RULES AND ITS IGNORE-AT-YOUR-OWN-RISK CODE OF CONDUCT, the new book by Ross Bernstein. In this exclusive online excerpt, you can read Joe Theismann's thoughts on the hit nobody can forget, discover how Steve Sabol helped save the game, and learn about the ridiculous lengths some teams will go to give their stadium home field advantage (hint: buy a snowplow).

The Code football
Spygate. Trash talking. Intimidation. Retaliation. Bounties. Excessive celebration. Cheap shots and chop blocks. The Code: Football's Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-at-Your Own-Risk Code of Honor by Ross Bernstein takes you in-depth and behind the scenes to explore the history of football's unspoken expectations of all who are involved with the game each Sunday.

 

More than 100 current and former NFL players, coaches, front office employees and media personalities were interviewed to examine how players go about their business on the field of play. They explain why various "rules" are expected among players and what tactics are used during games.

 

The Code: Football's Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-at-Your Own-Risk Code of Honor discusses the top controversies on the gridiron, including:

• The Patriots illegally taping the Jets defensive coaches' signals in 2007
• Wide receivers and defensive backs using stickum to help catch balls
• Offensive linemen using silicone to make it difficult for defensive players to grab their jersey
• Conrad Dobler reflecting on the many ways he used intimidation to his advantage
• How Tony Mandarich beat steroid testing during his playing days
• Lawrence Taylor's career-ending hit on Joe Theismann on Monday Night Football in 1985

 

In addition to analyzing the reasons for controversial actions in football, Bernstein elaborates further by covering the unspoken code of players, coaches and even the referees. Top players and personnel from the past and present discuss their experiences on how football players police themselves, including Steve Young, Bill Romanowski, John Randle, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Sabol and many more.

 

The Code: Football's Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-at-Your Own-Risk Code of Honor brings together both the most memorable violations and upholdings of the code in football history. No other book ever written goes behind the scenes of the gridiron the way The Code offers both casual and diehard fans.

 

About the author:

Ross Bernstein is the author of more than 40 sports books and has been featured on CNN and ESPN, as well as in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.  As a sought-after motivational speaker, he speaks to corporations and groups across the country about the inspirational legacy of the late Herb Brooks, Hall of Fame coach of the 1980 gold-medal-winning "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey team.  Ross and his wife, Sara, have a daughter and reside in Eagan, Minnesota.  He can be reached at www.bernsteinbooks.com.

 

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CONTACT: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312.252.1248, b.ames@triumphbooks.com