Playmakers: The Complete Series Daddy issues, crack addiction, spousal abuse, and decrepit twentysomething bodies are but a portion of the problems visited upon the fictional Cougars pro football team…
Playmakers | CHILD'S 'PLAY' I'm NOT gonna show you the money, Russell
Image credit: Playmaker: © ESPN/Courtesy Everett Collection
CHILD'S 'PLAY' I'm NOT gonna show you the money, Russell
EW's GRADE
A-

Details Movie Rated: Unrated; With: Omar Gooding and Russell Hornsby

Daddy issues, crack addiction, spousal abuse, and decrepit twentysomething bodies are but a portion of the problems visited upon the fictional Cougars pro football team -- anchored by nemeses Hornsby and Gooding (Cuba's little brother) in Playmakers: The Complete Series. These nasty dramas infuriated the NFL, prompting ESPN to drop the show after one season -- but heck, what a season. Eleven daring episodes cover such varied story lines as Gooding's excruciating visit to a depraved urologist before a drug test (let's just say a greasy tube and someone else's pee are involved) and Hornsby's gentle comrade-ship with his best friend and teammate (Jason Matthew Smith), who's on antidepressants after paralyzing an opponent. The result: TV's first truly macho soap. EXTRAS Guest star Snoop Dogg chats about acting; creator John Eisendrath reveals that he...loves his cast! They're all skippable.

Originally posted Jun 18, 2004 Published in issue #770 Jun 18, 2004 Order article reprints