On the Sidelines: The Pursuit of an NFL Career

Follow one player's yearlong journey through three leagues in the cutthroat world of professional football. The story begins with the utter discontent of an oft-rejected NFL applicant, one who has spent four years on the fringes of the game, only to have achieved little more than memories of what could have been, dreams dashed. But a successful 2005 season in NFL Europe creates an avenue for success in the NFL, if only for a fleeting moment. In stark contrast from the lifestyles of successful athletes, the story sheds light on professional sports from a different angle – the rabid fans, the profiteering franchise owners, the lack of player health benefits, and the ever-hounding media gives those who have dreamt of living the NFL lifestyle reason to reflect and appreciate the qualities of their own lives. Along the way, follow stories of a rape accusation, German citizens' reluctance to show national pride, surviving a tax audit, and discovering a litter of possums underneath a dishwasher.