The Franchise (novel)
In 1973, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Peter Gent wrote an exposé of hypocrisy and drug use in professional football called North Dallas Forty that was later adapted into successful film of the same name starring Nick Nolte and Mac Davis.
In 1983, he wrote a somewhat lesser-known book called The Franchise, that shared some of the themes of North Dallas Forty, and adds political corruption and murder.
Taylor Rusk is a star college quarterback and a can't-miss prospect in the professional ranks. Through various illegal means, "The League" awards a new expansion franchise to North Texas, and, as expected, the expansion Texas Pistols draft Rusk number one. The Pistols have a five year plan to turn the Pistols into champions, and Taylor Rusk is the key. But Rusk is on to the corruption and refuses to be a victim. With his college coach at the helm and "old league" legends mentoring him, Taylor Rusk plays The League's game until it's time for him to make his most daring move to bring it down.
But along the way, he is betrayed by an old teammate-turned-general manager and witnesses a true friend suffer a severe knee injury, and after the doctor botches the surgery to repair the damage, Taylor Rusk sees him get tossed aside and sink into a deep depression that leads to him murder his family and committing suicide.
Five years later, the Texas Pistols are world champions, but Taylor Rusk has little time to celebrate. He's got to save the life of another victim: the woman he's fallen in love with.