To say that Italy-the land of fine wines, extremely small cars, and football americano-holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement. And now they’ve got Rick, who knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is) and doesn’t speak a word of Italian. The Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player-any former NFL player-at their helm. Against enormous odds, Rick finally gets a job-as the starting quarterback for the Mighty Panthers.of Parma, Italy. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock-and was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.īut all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent find a team that needs him. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. In the AFC Championship game, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. To say that Italy-the land of opera, fine wines, extremely small cars, romance, and Football Americano- holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

He knows nothing about Parma-not even where it is-has never been to Europe, and doesn't speak or understand a word of Italian. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers-at least until a better offer comes along-and heads off to Italy. Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player-any former NFL player-at their helm. Great, says Rick-for which team? The mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback. Rick is first baffled and then enchanted by all things Italian-tiny cars opera benign corruption-and. But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. The book is also the authors love letter to Italy. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Playing for pizza book