What winners won't tell you Lessons from a legendary defender

In this middle-of-the-road debut memoir, former NFL defensive back and two-time Super Bowl winner Jenkins highlights his triumphs on the field and his social activism off of it. Jenkins grew up in New Jersey in the 1990s and became a standout on the gridiron during high school. He went on to play for the Ohio State University and was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. When writing about sports, Jenkins often sticks to platitudes ("We were only as good as our weakest link")--only his granular descriptions of specific plays (including one where he bested New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who provides the book's brief foreword) help set them apart. And even some football fans may raise an eyebrow at Jenkins's attitude toward the toll the sport can take on its players: when describing a tackle he made that caused a concussion, he writes, "I hate to see that happen, especially knowing what we know about the effects of brain trauma," before admitting that he'd do the same thing "a hundred times over." More successful are sections where Jenkins discusses his Philadelphia-area organizing efforts, including protests and legislative meetings, after the 2016 shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling; his stance on kneeling during the national anthem (he calls it a "perfect" protest); and his efforts to educate NFL leadership about racial justice. Not much here defies expectations, but for football fans, it's diverting enough. Agent: Daniel Kirschen, ICM Partners. (Oct.)

Thoughtful memoir by a football great. The 14th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Ohio State, Jenkins started his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, and he refused the team's first contract offer until finally signing for a then-impressive $19 million for five years: "This was my first business decision: start training camp on time and accept whatever deal they offered or hold out until I was paid my worth." Never shy of speaking his mind, he played for 13 seasons for the Saints, the Philadelphia Eagles, and then the Saints again, attracting controversy late in his career raising his fist in a Black Power salute during the national anthem. On the field, Jenkins proved to be one of the best defensive backs in the NFL, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl winner. The best parts of his memoir are his play-by-play memories of important games, as well as an insider's account of the unexpectedly complex work required in training, especially for a rookie ("a player must learn to play at a high enough rate of speed to challenge their limits with the sobriety of mind to keep from putting their teammates in compromising situations"). Though he started off slow at his rookie camp, Jenkins survived the first roster cut, unlike a couple of the showoffs who thought they knew better than the veterans and coaching staff--a valuable lesson for any player, from Pop Warner kids to would-be NFL stars. Other lessons come fast and furious: "Having a corner that can take out the opposition's top wideout is a premium for any defense"; "When you get a takeaway in the red zone, they essentially count for double." Jenkins closes with his decision to retire in 2020, satisfied that "I had given that last chapter of my life everything I had." Fans of Jenkins on and off the field will take much pleasure in this action-packed account of gridiron life. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.