If you're a football fan looking for more insight into the world of the NFL, don't miss this one. Written by an author with experience in the world of collecting and protecting information, the extreme measures coaches and teams will go to obtain an edge is fascinating .

An in-depth look at the history of spying, cheating, and bending the rules in the NFL is covered in SPIES ON THE SIDELINES, by Kevin Bryant. Along with the history, the book introduces many of the major characters in the NFL that were always look for any advantages they could get, whether allowed or not. As these questionable acts are discovered and preventative measures taken, the reader can see how the ensuing rules created from these incidents forever affected how the game was prepared for and played.
Bryant does a good job of explaining how the spying and rule bending happened and spends equal time explaining the results that included punishments, rule changes, and increased security measures. While there were a lot of brash, outlandish characters in the NFL that sought ways to get a leg up, Bryant is very clinical in his analysis of what was going on. The last section of the book covers solely the recent eras of the New England Patriots. Bryant starts this section with a clear vision that the Patriots, because of so many teams and players have so many complaints, are guilty until proven innocent. While many would say this is a proper approach, it counters the design of the book up until this point. The book feels mostly unbiased in it's approach by simply recounting events and their repercussions until this part, but even the title of section refers to the team as the "Cheatriots", immediately implying guilt.
I really enjoyed this SPIES ON THE SIDELINES and all of the crazy but true stories about how teams did anything and everything to win over the years. Even the part about the New England Patriots had a lot of good info and analysis, it was just clouded by a clear prejudgment that they were always guilty.

This well-written, deeply researched novel by Kevin Bryant was extremely educational in the art of sports spying. I never could have imagined the lengths that coaches allowed their spies/shadows to go through from the 30's right through to yesterday to secretively observe, videotape, audiotape, and openly meander the sidelines of opponents to learn their plays. From watching for "white knuckles" of defensive linemen to the bending knees of quarterbacks, all movements and quirks of the players are a "tell" in knowing what action a player may take.

I will watch football through different eyes after reading this top-notch novel. It's an education for all football fans especially those of us who just "love to watch the game" and don't get involved in the stats and politics of it. I'll be getting a hard copy of this book as a gift for my husband for sure.

Well done, Kevin Bryant!

My thanks to #NetGalley and Rowman & Littfield for this Arc. This opinion is my own.