The former football player for the Miami Dolphins recounts his battle with post-football financial disaster, cocaine addiction, incapacitating medical problems, and a conviction for hyped-up drug charges that he fought all the way to State Supreme Court.

Almost 30 years later, this story continues to affect his life.  Morris has been a staunch advocate for justice and respect that has been absent for the retired players of the NFL.  Morris has been successful in making the NFL give back disability benefits that were wrongly taken from retired players.  Last year, a rule was invented by the owners and the player’s union to prevent Morris from helping other retired players in their fight for disability and retirement benefits.  The NFL resurrected the charges Morris overcame by way of winning in the Florida Supreme Court in 1986.  This “felony exclusion” rule was tailor made to prevent Morris from representing unfortunate retired players whose benefits had been stolen from them by actions of the Retirement Board and their lawyers. Using a 28 year old “set up” to block Morris’ effort to help retired players is simple.  The end justifies the means.  Remember all of this comes from Washington DC, the “Mecca” of corruption.

Fast forward to Michael Vick, coming straight out of a prison uniform and into a Philadelphia Eagles uniform.  Vick’s conviction involved a fresh felony.  Vick’s NFL contract mentions no “felony exclusion” clause.  In fact, Roger Goodell welcomed Michael Vick back into the NFL, and gave him another chance in his career, despite his felony conviction.

In the early 80’s Morris was targeted by the authorities in Miami because he was a high-profile professional athlete.  In 1982, the State of Florida baked a cake with #22 on it because “they knew he was coming”.  Janet Reno’s prosecutor, George Yoss said to Morris, “We want to know the names of everybody who smoked a joint or did a line of coke in the NFL”.  The State wanted a high profile case to make them look good by making Mercury Morris look bad. In January of 1983, while Morris was awaiting sentencing, the State teamed up with Sports Illustrated to offer Morris his freedom if he agreed to a tell-all story with the magazine about drugs and gambling and the NFL.  It didn’t work.  Morris fought an extraordinary battle, never giving in to the State’s schemes of getting other players in a “jackpot” simply for the politics of a feather in their cap.  They didn’t know Morris was a fighter, both then and now.  This book tells you about “then” so you can understand why Morris fights for Justice against those who can’t fight for themselves now.  The story is compelling when you realize that Morris didn’t have to do one day in prison but he chose his integrity rather than a deal.  When you read this book, you will understand why.

Sincerely,
Eugene “Mercury” Morris

© 2008 - All Rights Reserved.