A twin bill from Emory Hunt and crew at Football Game Plan leading off Reads Listens Views.

Reads: Football: A Love Story & What Did Football Teach Me

This duo of publications compiled by the crew at Footballgameplan.com is time well-spent. I found myself 30 pages into Football: A Love Story while standing next to my mailbox. Both books are compilations of coaches, players, and media telling their own stories about the game and the cross-section of people surveyed is fantastic:

• Future Hall of Famer Ed Reed
• Former NFL lineman and national media analyst Ross Tucker
• NFL and college coach Jeff Tedford
• Dr. Jen Welter, former player and Arizona Cardinals’ linebacker coach–the first female coach in the NFL
• Willie Robinson, head coach of the Lubeck Cougars, a German football team (an incredible story)
• Terry Bowden
• John Harbuagh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens

These two books are perfect for a trip or a series of brief moments where you want to get away from the world for a few minutes at a time. Pick them up at the link above.

Listens: James Brown “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag”

The Return of Reads Listens Views?

If you’re new to the Rookie Scouting Portfolio blog, welcome.  Until last December, I used Fridays to post links to pieces that I’ve found personally compelling or to content I haven’t read yet. I moved in spring of 2014 and I had a lot of logistical adjustments, including finding an adequate way to build and maintain a growing library of college game games. I had to drop something from my schedule and it mean Reads Listens Views was the first to go.

I had a false start with returning RLV to the rotation in April, but I’m hoping I can make it stick. As I’ve long said about this Friday feature, you may not like everything listed here, but you’re bound to like something.

The Rest of My Current Rotation:

• Assholes: A Theory – Aaron James’ book explores what it means for someone to be an asshole and how to manage these people in your life. Looks fun and possibly helpful.
• The Art of Smart Football – Chris Brown’s (@SmartFootball) followup to his first book is an excellent combination of storytelling and Xs and Os deconstruction of what’s influencing the game. Do yourself a solid and buy this book.  I also recommend his recent update to his football glossary at the Smart Football site.
• Several short sentences about writing – Verlyn Klinkenborg is a novelist, teacher, and on the editorial board of the New York Times. His book is a departure from many publications on writing. It’s meditative, elegant, and encourages you to let go of all the bullshit that you’ve picked up in school.
• The Complete Wide Receiver – Jay Norvell has coached the position for over 30 years. His pupils have included Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Michael Clayton, Jerome Pathon, Jerry Porter, and most recently, Dorial Green-Beckham. This book was recommended to me, because a scout thought I had read it based on my observations of the position. Reading it has been a validation and a valuable pursuit of knowledge.

Download the 2015 Rookie Scouting Portfolio + Post-Draft Update!

Friday’s are also my chance to thank you for reading my work, encourage you to follow the RSP blog, and download the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication.

 If you’re in a dynasty league, the combination of the 2015 RSP and the RSP Post-Draft will have you prepared for this year and beyond.

Here’s just a sample of what my readers–new and old–are saying about the 2015 RSP.  (Get ready for “Squee!” “Dammnits” and jaws dropping)

Take a video tour of the 2015 pre-draft to see what I mean:

Seriously, this analysis is worth the price of the 2015 RSP package alone, but you also get the post-draft addendum with your purchase of the RSP. Remember 10 percent of each sale is donated to Darkness to Light to prevent sexual abuse in communities across the United States. While that alone should get you to download the RSP package, do it because you will be blown away with the detail and insight of the analysis and content. It’s why the RSP has grown so much in the past 10 years.

Download the 2015 RSP and RSP Post-Draft here

Views: Shin Lim Fooling Penn and Teller

In Case You Missed It/Coming Soon

• The Gut Check No.340 – Players I’m Wary Of – 20 rounds of players, some I might draft, but I share reasons I’m skeptical of their value this year.
• The Gut Check No.339 – Players I Believe In – Posted last night at Footballguys.com, I give you 22 rounds worth of players who I believe in what they can do if given the opportunity.
• Reality Sports Online Writers League Free Agent Auction – Journaling my plan and execution. Remember 10 percent off your RSO league with Promo Code: RSP10 .
• Waldman’s Receivers to Defend the Planet: Randy Moss – The easiest selection of my receivers for my RSP Writers Project Team.
• The RSP Writers Project: Team to Defend the Planet – How would you build a team if aliens challenged you to a game with the planet on the line?  I discuss on RotoViz’s pod.

Listens: Eric Dolphy, “Tenderly”

Views – Mind-Bending Photography by Erik Johansson

Reads (Life In General)

• Junior Seau’s Family Will Not Be Allowed to Speak at His Hall of Fame Induction – For the first time since I can remember, I won’t be watching the event this year and this is why.
• Seven Books That Will Change How You See the World – Subjects include happiness, morals, disorder, fanaticism, civilization, the matrix, and existence.
• Why police so often see unarmed black men as threats 
• Why You Should Know Civil Rights Icon Gloria Richardson – More than 50 years ago, the activist and pioneer stood up to the National Guard and became an inspiration to a generation of activists.
• 100 Percent is Overrated – People labeled “smart” at a young age don’t deal well with being wrong. Life grows stagnant.

Listens – Shelley Carrol and “Inner Urge” H/T to @sigmundbloom