The new HBO hit show Ballers is sweeping the sports nation as one of the best hit shows of the summer.
We at TopBet decided it was our public duty to try and help the show generate a few more ideas for future scripts. We’ve seen Vernon Littlefield test the limits with a few “ladies of the night” at a boat party. We’ve also seen star wide out Ricky Jerrett, not only get caught with his own fun house, but also sleeping with his teammate’s mother – a definite no no.
All these off-field issues and we’re only a few episodes deep! The show is all about the problem players, so here a few likely candidates for season two.
[sc:Football ]
NFL Players Most Likely To Star in HBO’s Ballers
1. Adam “PacMan” Jones – Cornerback – Cincinnati Bengals
The show came close to the PacMan story line with Ricky Jerrett trying to right his wrongs with Alonzo Cooley after sleeping with his Mom. They attended a strip club, but it wasn’t quite PacMan’esque.
Jones attended a Las Vegas strip club in 2007 with rapper Nelly and began to shower the stage with $1 bills. It’s been reported Nelly threw hundreds of singles, while Jones hit the exchanged $40,000 worth. After the Washington’s hit the stage, he and rapper Jermaine Dupre ordered the ladies not pick up the money. When people started picking up the money, things went south in a hurry. PacMan ended up hitting one of the dancers and a one of his crew fired two gunshots into the crowd.
Jones is now on the hook for between $11 and $13 Million in damages.
There’s smart football players. There’s dumb football players. Then there’s Plaxico Burress.
You don’t need a wonderlic to realize this guy isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. In 2008, our boy Plax went to the LQ nightclub on Lexington Avenue in New York. The plan was to have a nice fun night out and maybe meet some nice ladies at the bar. It quickly turned sideways when Burress decided he’d need his Glock pistol at the club. Whether he was dancing or taking a leak, we’re not sure. None the less, his gun slid down his pants. When he went to reach for it, he shot himself in the leg.
After being released from hospital, New York City police realized after viewing the video, that carrying a gun wasn’t exactly law-friendly. Burress turned himself in two days later and picked up the tab for the $100,000 bail. Authorities checked his house not to long after though and found that again, he was still in possession of the gun.
In 2009, Burress went from the playing field to the slammer and was sentenced to two years behind bars.
We’re not sure if the cast and crew would be comfortable having trigger-happy Plaixco on set. We are pretty sure his story would in nicely though.
3. Ryan Leaf – Quarterback – Retired
Ryan Leaf is one of the best worst stories in NFL history.
One of the highest ranked Pac-10 quarterbacks of the 90’s, Ryan Leaf was a true gem in the making. After putting up tremendous numbers with the Washington State Cougars, Leaf was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in his junior year. He was slated to go either #1 or #2 in the 1998 NFL Draft with fellow QB great-in-the-making Peyton Manning out of Tennessee. Manning was taken by the Colts number one overall and Leaf ultimately went to the Chargers, who traded their third overall pick, a future first, their third rounder and three-time Pro Bowlers Eric Metcalf to the Arizona Cardinals for the pick. He was then signed to a four year deal worth $31.25 million dollars.
That was a mistake.
In his first season, Leaf’s play was constantly overshadowed by his poor behavior off the field. None the less, he still got enough looks in to finish the year with a horrific QB rating of 39. [sc:NFL240banner ] He only played in 10 games before getting yanked after posting 1,289 passing yards, 45.3% completed passes, 2 touchdowns, and a grand total of 15 interceptions!
His second season wasn’t much better. He constantly got into yelling matches with his teammates, media and even fans. He was out of the league after four years and then the good times really kicked in for the #2 overall pick. In 2010 he was sentenced to 10 years probation for drug charges. He then plead guilty two years later to felony burglary and drug possession (again). Then after a short stint in rehab, Leaf was served with a seven year sentence in the custody of the Montana Department of Corrections. He then broke into a house in Montana to steal some prescription drugs and was hit with five-years in prison.
Not shockingly, Leaf was ranked as the No. 1 biggest “draft bust” of all time by the NFL Network in a Top 10. If this story line doesn’t make it to Ballers, there’s something wrong with the world! We suggest anybody but Ryan Leaf to play Ryan Leaf.
4. Minnesota Vikings Love Boat – 17 members – Many prostitutes
The year was 2004 and “the sea was angry that day my friends.” The Minnesota Vikings were debating grabbing their fishing rods and hitting the streams or grabbing a bunch of hookers and hitting the streams. The decision they went with was definitely a regrettable one.
The men involved (allegedly) were quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Fred Smoot, Mewelde Moore, Pat Williams, Nate Burleson, Bryant McKinnie, Ralph Brown, Jermaine Wiggins, then rookie Troy Williamson, Kevin Williams, Travis Taylor, Lance Johnstone, Willie Oxford and of course Moe Williams. Needless to say team chemistry was built that day.
Some of the guys flew in exotic dancers from parts of Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Fred Smoot was the ringleaders of the event and was has also been named numerous times as the operator of a double headed…never mind.
Four players were charged with misdemeanors for what happened on Lake Minnetonka and all 17 members of the team were ordered to sleep on the couch.
Honorable Mention
Warren Sapp – Retired
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer legend and NFL Network analyst was caught in 2015 soliciting prostitution. His contract with the network was immediately terminated. Sapp will now forever be remembered for his honesty during interrogation. It’s weird.
Ray Rice – Unsigned Free Agent
By now, everybody knows the story. Ray Rice knocked out his wife in an elevator. After the video was reviewed by the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens, Rice was suspended by the league and cut from the team. However, his wife supported him and stuck with him. To each their own.
Michael Vick – Unsigned Free Agent
Yes, Michael Vick was involved in an illegal dog fighting and killing ring. Can we take a moment to talk about his 2008 mug shot though? Look at that thing. Does he use this for auditions? The fact that this guy posed for his mugshot is more laughable than his comeback to the NFL. Let’s call it what it is and get him on the poster in a Belly sequel.
Brett Favre – Retired
Legendary quarterback Brett Favre fell into quite a bit of hot water, when the league investigated him for allegedly sending then-Jets cheerleader Jenn Sterger dick pics and inappropriate messages. Now take a second and look at the photo above. Can you blame him?
