Customer Reviews

Inside the Meat Grinder: An NFL Official's Life in the Trenches

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I enjoyed this book because it gave me (a woman) a different view of the game. I was unaware of the time officials are away from their families and the preparation involved with being a football official. It was also informative to know of the many "conversations" that take place between the players and the players and officials.

I particularly enjoyed the round table discussion which included one of the great officials of our time Mr. Red Cashion.

I believe Mr. Brown and Mr. Eisenstock have done an exceptional job of enlightening its readers on events that go unoticed in the NFL.

It's refreshing to read a book about professional sports where the love of the game is the central focus, not dollars and cents. After all the harping about bad officiating, Inside the Meatgrinder clarifies what NFL officials go through to get to that level, and what they have to do to stay there. Most of us wouldn't keep our jobs under this type of scrutiny and review.

Although I try to focus on what's happening all over the field when I watch a football game, my attention is inevitably drawn to the ball. As an umpire, right in the middle of the most violent interior line action, Chad Brown explains what goes on in the "meatgrinder". This is a very readable book, an excellent way to start the football season. It's smart, witty, and leaves you rooting for the guys in striped shirts.

I thougth the book gave a great insight to the game we love. We forget that the players and the refs are just regular people playing a game. The players comments are quite funny when you consider that. I thought the book was very entertaining and gave a great view inside of what the refs go through day in and day out. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who loves the game of football and to anyone who has ever critisized a ref for making a bad call.

Chad Brown brings the life of an NFL official into light. He talks about growing up playing football in the streets to shuffling colleges, waiting to hear his name called out in the NFL draft. Chad is eventually cut and tried a short stint in coaching, but finds his home in officiating. As a young official I find this book very inspirational. Very good and quick read, includes a neat view of walking onto the field on of an NFL stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Brown,
Thank you. The information you have provided, in this well crafted chronicle of life as an NFL Official, is well documented and expresses your true love and passion for the game. As a former collegete player and current High school official this is a must read for ALL students of the game. I would urge coaches, players and parents to add this book to there educational libary. If players could see the game as officials see the game (officials that have competed in this sport) it would add years to there career. To suceed in football you must be a STUDENT of the game and Chad Brown has surpassed that level.

This sloppily-written, poorly-edited effort nonetheless provides a valuable inside look at the National Football League. Through the eyes of umpire Chad Brown, I gained a better understanding of the difficulties, challenges and rewards which constitute the professional life of the "zebras". Mr. Brown responds convincingly to the complaint, "How can those geezers keep up with the young, fast athletes of the NFL?" And he demonstrates that the 100-plus NFL officials would be their own harshest critics, were it not for the coaches, certain players, and the supervisors in the league office. It's an entertaining look at a world most of us will never know, marred by several minor factual errors, lackadaisical writing and insufficient editing.

A quick read for pro football fanatics. Adds another perspective to the to the multiple facets of the game. Focuses on the game from officials' perspective. Enhances the fan's understanding in what has become the true national pastime sport.

Mr. Brown's book is very insightful and gives a hint of understanding to someone who knows very little about the perplexing game of football.

I found this book quite humorist after reading this fast-pace novel about Mr. Brown's early childhood and his experiences as a NFL player.

When looking at the games with my husband, he has made some of the same comments about coaches and players that Chad Brown acknowledges in his book. The coachs complain and make excuses for loosing a game and blame the loss on the officials. I can only imagine the pressure these men must feel while trying to call the game correctly and follow the guidelines of the NFL.

From my experiences, I have noted that the majority of authors compose a book about a topic in which they have little or no background in. To the contrary, Mr. Brown, in my opinion, has written an amazing book about his experiences, both on and off the football field. After reading this book, Mr. Brown has done an excellent job on changing my perspective about football by writing a humerous insight on "Inside the Meat Grinder." :)

This book features very interesting information about football officiating and NFL football in general. I enjoyed reading the book, however it was written in a rather meandering style.

The language is rated R, but if you can handle it, I would recommend this book for hardcore NFL and referee fans.

CHAD BROWN DOES A NICE TELLING US ABOUT HIS LIFE IN FOOTBALL AS A PLAYER AND REFEREE. I FOUND THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF THIS BOOK WERE HIS WEEKLY PREPARATION FOR EACH GAME. THE WEEKLY TESTING AND GRADING OF EACH OFFICIAL WAS VERY INTERESTING. ANOTHER PLUS WAS THE WAY HOW HE KEEPS HIMSELF IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION BY EXERCISE AND HEALTHY EATING. THE PART ABOUT HIS URINE TESTING FOR DRUGS WAS ALSO AMUSING. BUT I REALLY WANTED MORE ABOUT THE GAME ACTION INSIDE THE MEAT GRINDER AS HE PUTS IT. ALOT OF THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH HIS OPINION OF CERTAIN PLAYERS AND THEIR CONSTANT WHINING AND BITCHING ABOUT PENALTIES. BUT OVERALL THIS SEEMS TO BE A GOOD READ FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME REFEREES. ALL IN ALL THIS WORTH READING BUT NOTHING NEW OR EXCITING.