Roger Goodell Tried To Stop NFL Players From Appearing On HBO’s “Ballers”

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Roger Goodell is at it again.

The critically acclaimed HBO series Ballers, which is directed by Mark Wahlberg and stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a financial adviser for NFL players  has been a hit so far.

The show popularity stems from it’s realistic portrayal of the lavish lives of professional athletes.

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But Roger Goodell isn’t a fan and he’s trying to do something about it.

Mark Wahlberg said on ESPN’s Mike & Mike on Friday that Goodell and NFL owners called and told them not to let NFL players make cameos.

Among the NFL players that have made cameos are Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown, Washington Redskins WR DeSean Jackson, New York Giants WR Victor Cruz and Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs.

According to Amie Just of the Washington Post, Wahlberg said:

The first season of the show, the only call that I was getting was from guys like Roger Goodell saying ‘you can’t do this,’ and various owners in the league. And we’re saying is it’s actually a good thing for the league and for the players because hopefully you get the word out there with the crazy stuff and the financial side of it, we’ll hopefully get these guys to realize they gotta be more careful with what they do with their money.

The show has some controversial themes such as drugs, sex, financial mishaps but it tries to capture the ups and downs of life as a professional active. Cameos by NFL stars help give the show more authenticity, which is something that is not sitting well with NFL owners.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL has “officially declined to comment on the matter.”