Paper Lion

Harvard-educated, New York City residing journalist George Plimpton's on-field exploits in the world of American professional football are dramatized. With a contract to fulfill for Sports Illustrated magazine regarding first hand sports experiences of the layperson, Plimpton settles on trying out as a rookie for a professional football team as quarterback, despite: his body shape of being tall and lanky not generally thought of as being associated with football; similar forays in professional baseball in pitching to every all-star player and professional boxing in a planned three-rounds with Sugar Ray Robinson as past endeavors for his articles being less than successful in terms of the activities themselves; and the dangers of potential real physical serious injury. Nobody except those at the top would know that he is not a real football player in he wanting the experience to be as realistic as possible. With his girlfriend and assistant Kate putting out feelers, he is only able to convince those at the Detroit Lions, including head coach Joe Schmidt, to enter into the endeavor on his terms, which includes the Coach having the authority to cut him at any time he thinks he isn't holding his own. As the try-outs progress, Plimpton ends up changing his goal to not only making the team, but playing in a real game.