The Blood and Guts. Tyler Dunne.

The Blood and Guts.    Tyler Dunne.

How Tight Ends Save Football. 

Author Tyle Dunne has put together an effervescent in-depth manuscript featuring players practicing their craft in the upper levels of football.    The Blood and Guts showcases more than a dozen well-known players that garnered unprecedented success at one of the games most underrated and thankless positions---the tight end.   Between the book covers, readers will learn about legendary players such as Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow, and new age performers such as Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, Jeremy Shockey, Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, and many others.  

Each had a story to tell.   Most players spoke of challenging upbringings that likely contributed to their work effort and how they played the game.   Their background most certainly augmented their extraordinary toughness—hence the title.    For without that trait, it would also be equally unlikely that those characters would have made it at the highest level if even succeeding at all in the game.     In other words, the book exclaims that a special breed of a person may be necessary to play one of the most rugged positions in the game at any level. 

Dunne, a veteran football writer who also founded the Newsletter Go Long, reveals the souls for all featured players.   All had an edge in some shape or form and Dunne was able to capture that through poignant one-on-one meetings while compiling his research for this book.   Fortunately for the reader many of the best-known tight ends that ever played the game were willing to share, divulge and commiserate their triumphs, fears, and foibles along the way.  

If one reads carefully enough, they will find a story within the story.    Old school tight ends were expected to block as much as possible to support the running game or protect the quarterback when passing the ball to the faster receivers.    As the game evolved in the 1980’s and beyond, the new school tight ends became a greater weapon in the passing game.    As a result, some of these players faced harsh criticism for not being willing blockers.    A prime example was the above-mentioned Tony Gonzalez while enduring a lengthy NFL career as an All-pro tight end.   The author reveals that his critics (including various coaches) were not pleased with this attitude towards blocking.   On the other hand, according to Dunne, Gonzalez bristled at the perception of being accused or labeled as either a poor or unenthusiastic blocker.  

Another interesting case study featured the story of Jeremy Shockey.   Perhaps it was his personality and truculent attitude that captures much attention.   His style likely depicted the way he performed on the grid-iron and how he carried himself off the field.   The stories about his first cafeteria encounter with the New York Giants as a rookie or with the Saints as a wily veteran are true highlights of the book.   Towards the end of the book, the author seemed to reveal his greatest findings with chapters devoted to superstars Rob Gronkowski, and George Kittle.  Gronkowski’s eclectic personality and off-field exploits nearly overshadow his enormous talent and football career accomplishments.   The chapter about Kittle, a lesser-known star, shows a strong, poignant connection between player and father.   In fact, the comments from fathers of both Gronkowski and Kittle contributed almost enough in the book to be main characters.  

Interesting in all the opus is that tight ends tend to make good football television analysts due to their keen knowledge of the game.    Dunne skillfully explains how tight ends wear many hats and play dual roles during the game.   It seems only natural that former ends have a good understanding of what is going on in the running and passing game since they were required to be proficient in both skills throughout their career.    This only makes the fact, according to Dunne, that the tight ends, on average, are typically among the lowest paid players in the NFL.   The book reveals that this was a sore spot for several of the players in the modern era and perhaps for good reason.

The attitudes, determination, setbacks drives and exultation are neatly captured in the stories from the best of the best playing this humble position.    There may have been a few tight ends that deserve some mention such as a Russ Francis or a Heath Miller.    Otherwise, this is a well written book of three hundred and twenty pages with interesting and edifying narratives of many tough, hungry football players.   It does not take long to realize how the title of this book was formed.    It may be debatable whether “tight ends save football” but Tyler Dunne makes a pretty strong case for why it is entirely possible.   There is a good chance the reader will never think of a football playing tight end in the same way.   

·         You might like to read this book if you are fan of the tight end position in football.

·         You might like to read this book if you are a college, NFL or even sports fan in general.

·         You might like to read this book if you enjoy reading about football players and their struggles for success.

·         You might like to read this book if you seek to learn more about the game and how one position has impacted offensive football.

·         You might like to read this book if you a fan of football history and how it compares to the challenges of today.  

Learn more about the author on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TyDunne