The Franchise (novel)

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The Franchise is a novel by former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Peter Gent written in 1983. It shared some of the themes of Gent's 1973 novel North Dallas Forty, and adds political corruption and murder.

[edit] Plot summary

Taylor Rusk is a star college quarterback and a can't-miss prospect in the professional ranks. Through various illegal means, North Texas is awarded an expansion franchise by "The League." As expected, the expansion Texas Pistols draft Taylor 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, Rusk is betrayed by an old teammate-turned-general manager and witnesses a true friend and teammate suffer a devastating knee injury, and after the doctor botches the surgery to repair the damage, his friend gets tossed aside and sinks into a deep depression that leads him to murder his family and commit 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 — who's also the mother of his son.