The esteemed sports journalist takes a deep look at the uniquely coveted and hallowed position of NFL quarterback through the lens of five top players in that position, taking readers inside their unique experiences of playing and holding the keys to their multibillion-dollar teams.
There’s an on-field perspective here that you don’t often get from the written word. Through these conversations, Feinstein has found a way to capture what it feels like—what it’s like to be standing in the huddle, to take the snap, to throw passes and take hits, to lead your team to a last-minute victory. It’s a view of the game from their perspective; engagingly capturing that perspective is one of Feinstein’s greatest talents ... Quarterback is as good a behind-the-scenes sports book as you’re likely to find. Feinstein has always been a masterful sports storyteller; what he’s spun together here holds up alongside his best. It’s a captivating deep dive, with the participants choosing to be a good deal more forthcoming than you might expect. There’s a great deal of honesty throughout this book that is refreshing; the nature of the job is such that you have to remain guarded with what you say and to whom. It’s clear that some trust was earned, which in turn leads to genuine depth.
His writing is comprehensive but unobtrusive. It is light and entertaining coverage, more like a conversation between two friends discussing the game over a burger and a beer. But his thoroughness cannot be denied ... By the end of the book, readers have significant knowledge of what it means to be a quarterback in the NFL ... Feinstein tells an enthralling story of an effort that is best characterized as all-encompassing, moving from the NFL draft room, to the locker room, practice field and game. It is a totally absorbing account.
Quarterback makes it into the red zone, but falls short of the goal line. Feinstein’s main character choices are flawed. The idea of keying on a few major quarterbacks is good. However, followers of the NFL may well wish he had chosen more colorful ones who were active in 2017, the year the book covers ... To give Feinstein his due, his narrative is as smooth as a Tom Brady pass ... Insights...make Feinstein’s book worthwhile ... For the diehard pro football fan interested in peeking behind the helmet, Quarterback makes absorbing reading.
