Second String

About this book

Second String is a direct-to-TV film directed by Robert Lieberman which originally aired in 2002 on TNT. The plot is about the Buffalo Bills football team who find its first string out for a month after a food poisoning incident, leading the team's head coach, "Chuck Dichter", to hire an insurance salesman and former college quarterback named Dan Heller as the team's backup quarterback. Teri Polo also appeared as Heller's wife; Flutie, Mike Ditka, Chris Berman, Van Miller, Bills cornerback Donovan Greer and Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson appear as themselves. The film received praise for having been shot in genuine stadiums. Reviewer Chuck Finder drew parallels between the character of Dan Heller and former Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Tommy Maddox.