Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile
*Starred Review* Nate Jackson played six seasons for the NFL Denver Broncos. He was, at various times, an extra wide receiver, a third-string tight end, and a special-teams regular. He didn’t get a contract that will support multiple generations of heirs; failed to assemble an adoring, self-interested posse; never signed an endorsement deal. But he lived his dream for six years, never quite sure if he’d survive the next cut—until he didn’t. Somewhere along the way he learned to write, not just link words together to form a coherent narrative, which would be more than enough for most sports bios, but really write. There is a bit of the artist in Nate Jackson. For anyone who wants to experience the NFL player experience, this is the book to read. The highs are here: scoring touchdowns (well, only a couple); moving from the practice squad to the game-day roster; those years (well, only a couple) when you felt kinda, sorta secure; and experiencing the camaraderie with teammates, a bittersweet pleasure given the uncertainty of who will be around tomorrow. Then there are the lows, led, of course, by injuries—lord, the injuries—the rehab, the pain, and the realization that one’s body has been completely misaligned. And the tragedy that Jackson endured with the death of two teammates—young, seemingly invincible warriors. This is Jackson’s first book, but he’s honed his skills at Slate, Deadspin, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Don’t miss this one; it could very well be the best book about pro football you will ever read. --Wes Lukowsky