Roger Goodell, like much of America, doesn't like "Ballers" — HBO's attempt at an NFL version of "Entourage." And he's willing to do something about it to make sure none of the players he lords over are involved.
"Ballers" producer Mark Wahlberg said on ESPN's "Mike & Mike" Friday that Goodell and NFL owners called the showrunners and told them not to let NFL players make cameos. Antonio Brown, Terrell Suggs, DeSean Jackson are among those who appeared in Season 1. Season 2 premieres Sunday.
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"The first season of the show, the only call that I was getting was from guys like Roger Goodell saying ‘you can’t do this,’ and various owners in the league,” Wahlberg said. “And we’re saying is it’s actually a good thing for the league and for the players because hopefully you get the word out there with the crazy stuff and the financial side of it, we’ll hopefully get these guys to realize they gotta be more careful with what they do with their money."
The show has some suggestive themes — drugs, sex, fiscal irresponsibility, that sort of thing — but it tries to capture the ups and downs of life as a professional athlete. Cameos by NFL players gives it more authenticity, which Goodell probably doesn't like given those themes.
Goodell should have used his all-worldly powers to make sure the second season of "True Detective" never saw the light of day.