“Bavaro peppers his tale with football action, a kind of bone-jarring realism only a former player can provide.” –The New York Times
“[Rough & Tumble is] equal parts thriller and gritty football realism.” –The Boston Herald
“Lean, fast-paced storytelling. Nary a scene is wasted, and rarely is an is an element introduced that doesn’t pay off some time down the line…The authenticity of Bavaro’s detailed scenes could only have arisen from the mind of someone who played the game at the highest level.” –South Bend Tribune (Indiana)
“Bavaro has the credentials to back up this gritty bone-cruncher, and the writing ability to make it worthy of comparison to Dan Jenkins’ Semi-Tough and Peter Gent’s North Dallas Forty. It’s a don’t-miss for fans in any league.” –Detroit Free Press
"I have a lot of admiration for Bavaro. He tells a fictionalized story of what pro football is really like, and does a good job with the kind of descriptive passages I never, ever expected to hear from a man I covered as an NFL rookie with the Giants. You'll like the Lawrence Taylor character. You'll recognize him in the first three sentences." --Peter King, Sports Illustrated
"A gritty, behind-the-scenes look at life in the NFL...colorful characters, insider revelations and lively storytelling." --Publishers Weekly
"A fascinating rookie novel. He absolutely gets the football right, but more surprisingly, he has created a thoughtful, credible narrator and an intriguing mix of full-bodied secondary characters who exist in the shadows of professional sports." --Booklist
"A riveting, fictitious, behind-the-scenes account of glory days with the New York Giants as seen through the eyes of rough-and-tumble tight end Mark Bavaro. The East Rutherford 40 equivalent of North Dallas 40." --Steve Serby, New York Post sports columnist
“A terrific novel…realistic, groundbreaking and with some of the best football scenes you’ll ever read.” --Mike Golic, former NFL defensive lineman and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning
"Mark Bavaro writes about the game the same way he played it, with vicious intensity. This story is a must read for football fans hungry for the heartless and brutal underbelly of life in the NFL." --Tim Green, New York Times bestselling author and former Atlanta Falcon
“A terrific novel. Just when you thought you had it figured out, the book takes an unexpected turn. I could not put it down.” --Charlie Weis, head football coach, Notre Dame, and former NFL offensive coordinator
“After reading this novel, readers will understand how difficult and dangerous the sport is.” --Joe Theismann, former Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl champion
“Buckle up your chin strap and get ready to be smashed in the mouth—this is an explosive novel for anyone who thinks pro football is all about money, celebrities and fame. Rough & Tumble is a timely novel that shows the high costs of playing America’s game.” --Phil McConkey, former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion
