Behind the Lines: A Veteran Quarterback's Look Inside the NFL

Strock's name is likely to be familiar only to pro-football insiders, since his 17 years in the NFL were spent as a backup quarterback for Miami, Cleveland and Indianapolis, starting in 1974. He did get to fill in often, however, and acquired some noteworthy statistics as a sub. But his account of his career, written with the prolific Frommer ( Running Tough ), is a pedestrian, unimpressive effort. Although it promises behind-the-scenes revelations, the book merely informs readers that there are no dirty players in the league but a few do play extra-hard; that most coaches are able; that some gridders abuse drugs, especially steroids. The one startling disclosure is that, denied access to bathrooms during the games, players urinate while on the bench or in the huddle. (Oct.)