The Cut

The Cut is not just well written, it's superbly paced and truly captivating. Wil Mara writes a very compelling story about 3 men's journey in the NFL. All the characters are realistic and completely believable - not once did I just not `buy into' a character. You find yourself truly questioning who you're rooting for and who you want to see burned during training camp. This book takes you into the world of spring training for an NFL team - with all the twists and turns that come with it. The interpersonal battles between the coaches and players - the real life issues of contracts negotiations and agents/owner fighting - the drive to win - are all played out in this great work. Wil Mara also does a great job of weaving the more nefarious and seedy elements of competition into The Cut. The squabbling and back stabbing mesh seamlessly with the plot to keep you engaged through the entire read. I had the pleasure of reading The Cut while waiting to serve Jury Duty. I was 80% through the book when we were released for the day - and I was actually upset that I would have to leave and couldn't finish the book RIGHT NOW. Do you know how great a book has to be to make a sane man regret being released from Petit Jury Duty early? If you're a football fan, you must read this book. If you love good writing and great characters, you must read this book. Like The Draft, Wil Mara's first work in this series, this book is just excellent.

I have became a big fan of Wil Mara thanks to these books. It is a great easy read, I read it in 3 days and didn't want it to end!

This was a book that was very hard to put down. Mara is a very skilled writer that really puts you into the shoes of each of his characters. This was a book that was very exciting and provided many glances into the world of the NFL. I have no doubt that you will like this book. Mara is a great author that more people should start following. His writing is unique and very entertaining. I would HIGHLY suggest this book to any football fan.

Wil Mara once again crafts outstanding writing ability with an entertaining and necessary subject to shed light on some of the most imperative, yet least discussed topics in professional football. This book fully encapsulates the true realities of football, with its extensive research, well thought out gameplan, attention to details and fully tangible areas ( training camp and tough decisions that are involved from a player and management perspective)that are explored and presented in an exciting and knowledgeable fashion. It's essential that all football fans, fans of great writing and sports enthusiasts alike pick up a copy of Wil Mara's newest installement. David Kaye

Training camp is just about to start for the New York Giants, and their star tight end thinks it's time to renegotiate his contract. Signed two years before at league minimum, T.J. Brookman had gone from an unknown to the best performer in his position in the league. So when his agent asks that he at least get paid as well as everyone else in his position, everyone thinks that's only fair. Everyone, that is, except the Giants. Not only do they refuse to renegotiate, when T.J. sits out they find three other guys far hungrier who might just replace him. The result is no-holds-barred, full-contact mayhem as the three hopefuls vie for a single slot on team - that may not even be open. In this second novel in his NFL series, author Wil Mara leaves the front office, which was the setting for the first book, The Draft, and brings you right onto the practice field. This is meticulously researched stuff, written in exceptionally specific detail - so much so that after reading it, you'll feel like you've been bounced around on the professional football field yourself. Mara had unprecedented access to the real behind-the-scenes workings of the NFL - and it pays off. This is not your cliche football film with stereotype players. These are real guys - a veteran struggling to keep up with the younger contenders, a star hesitantly trying to come back after a devastating injury, and an unsigned unknown that just be better than them all - if he can just stop making rookie mistakes. And each of them is a fully believable human being, with weaknesses and a lot of strengths. You can smell the sweat, feel the impacts. And, unlike watching the game on Sunday, because this is a novel you can really get involved in the game itself - how the plays evolve, how the players react, what it means to make these kinds of decisions in a chess game of massive men, all highly trained professionals. On TV a play is over in a few seconds. On the page, each one can unfold in greater and greater detail, each with its own nuances. But don't forget this is a chess game of armored behemoths charging at full tilt into each other. A gifted storyteller, Mara is best when he describes the inevitable pain. Like Dick Francis, Mara has the uncanny ability to put you in the player's shoes at the moment of impact. More than once I found myself wincing in sympathy at what these poor guys go through. And because this is the tryout season for the team, an injury can mean the difference between untold riches and a shattered, discarded man. And beyond the field itself, there's another chess game going on. This one the stab and feint of contract negotiations. Yawn, you say? Contract negotiations are boring? Well, actually, in this book they're not. Mara's sympathy for both sides, and his gift for conveying the heart of the discussion in quick, pithy dialogue, keeps what could have been boring stuff not only interesting but exciting. And, just like with the first book, there's plenty of m