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Bernie Kosar: Learning To Scramble
Any football fan knows that scrambling is the way a quarterback can gain more time and more opportunity. But anyone familiar with Bernie Kosar’s football career knows he didn’t beat you with his physical prowess. Possessing slow feet, an awkward throwing motion and unorthodox mechanics, the kid from tough, blue-collar Youngstown, Ohio did not look like a prototype NFL quarterback. How he beat you – and he beat a lot of people over the course of his college and NFL career – was with a savant-like level of football intelligence and an indomitable will to win.
Chronicling his rise from the hard-up steel town of his birth, to prominence as the leader of the University of Miami’s first national championship team, and then to glory in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, the ride was not smooth and seldom came without a high cost. Kosar’s well-documented struggles came largely after his playing career ended, and the combination of physical, marital, familial, and financial issues transcended his uncanny ability to break down “Xs and Os” and ultimately cost him heavily.
Exploring his personal battles, “Learning to Scramble” is an unvarnished and completely authentic account of an extremely talented man’s ability to not only learn from his mistakes, but to evolve and develop new ways of approaching life. It’s a distillation of what can be done with just a little more time and a little more opportunity – all you can accomplish when you learn to scramble.
Chronicling his rise from the hard-up steel town of his birth, to prominence as the leader of the University of Miami’s first national championship team, and then to glory in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, the ride was not smooth and seldom came without a high cost. Kosar’s well-documented struggles came largely after his playing career ended, and the combination of physical, marital, familial, and financial issues transcended his uncanny ability to break down “Xs and Os” and ultimately cost him heavily.
Exploring his personal battles, “Learning to Scramble” is an unvarnished and completely authentic account of an extremely talented man’s ability to not only learn from his mistakes, but to evolve and develop new ways of approaching life. It’s a distillation of what can be done with just a little more time and a little more opportunity – all you can accomplish when you learn to scramble.
171 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 4, 2018
I have always liked and respected Bernie so this was a good, short read for me. He speaks about some less than glamorous situations he found himself in and I admire how resilient he is.
February 2, 2019
Bernie Kosar was a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns football team from 1985 until getting cut in the 1993 season by then coach of the Browns, Bill Belicheck. Kosar would win the Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys following the 1993 season before playing three more seasons as a backup for the Miami Dolphins.
Craig Stout and Bernie Kosar co-wrote the book 'Bernie Kosar: Learning To Scramble', which was released in September of 2017 through regional publisher Cleveland Landmarks Press. 'Learning To Scramble' follows an autobiographical bent that covers parts of the college and professional career of Kosar, some of the adventures or misadventures in business, family, and football that Bernie Kosar the man had in navigating interpersonal relationships while trying to produce results in his life that reflected his values.
Through February of 2018, Bill Belicheck had won five Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Back in 1993 when Bernie Kosar was released mid-season by Belicheck and the Cleveland Browns, none of this success was anticipated or really mattered to the fans of the Browns' franchise. In 'Learning To Scramble', Kosar treads carefully on this relationship in acknowledging that his (Kosar's) health had been hampered by broken bones, ankles, ribs, and other injuries to the point that the famous explanation of diminished skills for Kosar's release were justified.
Kosar would join the Dallas Cowboys as coached by his former University of Miami coach Jimmie Johnson, where both would win a Super Bowl. After having played for Johnson at the University of Miami and then the Dolphins, Kosar was a backup for the Miami Dolphins when Johnson coached there. In the intervening time, Kosar had success quarterbacking the Cleveland Browns, who he had taken to the playoffs in his first five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Gary Danielson served as a player and mentor to Bernie Kosar during the rookie season of Kosar's career in Cleveland. Kosar credits Danielson for being an aid to him during his early years, which included Danielson serving as a backup for at least two seasons beyond that rookie campaign. Kosar would recount this and the football values of tenacious commitment to focus that he and his teammates shared when the Browns' teams were winning.
Kosar spoke of the trust players have on the field, which included how he communicated authoritatively with players. This included with runningbacks Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack, wide receiver Reggie Langhorne, and tight end Ozzie Newsome. The trust and authoritative tone were borne of an obsessive commitment based on that shared value along with obtaining what Kosar called the discretionary effort of competition that presses through individual walls of pain or unreasonable exhaustion.
The notion of commanding trust in football meant thinking the same way on how to run routs, when to move from one defensive read or offensive play call to another, or not freelancing a route change that hasn't been practiced hundreds of times before. These values applied in football, though did not translate to matters of the heart.
By not applying football principles of interaction to family matters, Kosar explained many several inherently reckless familial matters involving his father, his brother, and the relationship he had with his wife and his mother-in-law. The relationship goals were different and driven largely in a world of dysfunction, though this is me placing my interpretation upon the anecdotes, personal outcomes, and motivations described through the book. In part, the familial tales and business relationships serve not so much as a story about football as it was a tale about even big tough football players are subject to human mistakes.
Overall, I found the narrative style of 'Learning To Scramble' refreshing, candid, and concisely stated. The nineteen chapters were divided into themes that rolled up into value statements that included anecdotes that contributed to the larger purpose of the stories shared. I recommend the book to fans of football from the mid-1980s through the early-1990s, fans of the Cleveland Browns, and ultimately fans of the game as played largely at its highest level. Further, I recommend the book to high school and college kids looking trying to figure out how to navigate the world using the life experiences of someone who didn't have all the answers or best influences yet did the best he could.
I rate 'Bernie Kosar: Learning to Scramble' at 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-star to 5-stars.
Craig Stout and Bernie Kosar co-wrote the book 'Bernie Kosar: Learning To Scramble', which was released in September of 2017 through regional publisher Cleveland Landmarks Press. 'Learning To Scramble' follows an autobiographical bent that covers parts of the college and professional career of Kosar, some of the adventures or misadventures in business, family, and football that Bernie Kosar the man had in navigating interpersonal relationships while trying to produce results in his life that reflected his values.
Through February of 2018, Bill Belicheck had won five Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Back in 1993 when Bernie Kosar was released mid-season by Belicheck and the Cleveland Browns, none of this success was anticipated or really mattered to the fans of the Browns' franchise. In 'Learning To Scramble', Kosar treads carefully on this relationship in acknowledging that his (Kosar's) health had been hampered by broken bones, ankles, ribs, and other injuries to the point that the famous explanation of diminished skills for Kosar's release were justified.
Kosar would join the Dallas Cowboys as coached by his former University of Miami coach Jimmie Johnson, where both would win a Super Bowl. After having played for Johnson at the University of Miami and then the Dolphins, Kosar was a backup for the Miami Dolphins when Johnson coached there. In the intervening time, Kosar had success quarterbacking the Cleveland Browns, who he had taken to the playoffs in his first five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Gary Danielson served as a player and mentor to Bernie Kosar during the rookie season of Kosar's career in Cleveland. Kosar credits Danielson for being an aid to him during his early years, which included Danielson serving as a backup for at least two seasons beyond that rookie campaign. Kosar would recount this and the football values of tenacious commitment to focus that he and his teammates shared when the Browns' teams were winning.
Kosar spoke of the trust players have on the field, which included how he communicated authoritatively with players. This included with runningbacks Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack, wide receiver Reggie Langhorne, and tight end Ozzie Newsome. The trust and authoritative tone were borne of an obsessive commitment based on that shared value along with obtaining what Kosar called the discretionary effort of competition that presses through individual walls of pain or unreasonable exhaustion.
The notion of commanding trust in football meant thinking the same way on how to run routs, when to move from one defensive read or offensive play call to another, or not freelancing a route change that hasn't been practiced hundreds of times before. These values applied in football, though did not translate to matters of the heart.
By not applying football principles of interaction to family matters, Kosar explained many several inherently reckless familial matters involving his father, his brother, and the relationship he had with his wife and his mother-in-law. The relationship goals were different and driven largely in a world of dysfunction, though this is me placing my interpretation upon the anecdotes, personal outcomes, and motivations described through the book. In part, the familial tales and business relationships serve not so much as a story about football as it was a tale about even big tough football players are subject to human mistakes.
Overall, I found the narrative style of 'Learning To Scramble' refreshing, candid, and concisely stated. The nineteen chapters were divided into themes that rolled up into value statements that included anecdotes that contributed to the larger purpose of the stories shared. I recommend the book to fans of football from the mid-1980s through the early-1990s, fans of the Cleveland Browns, and ultimately fans of the game as played largely at its highest level. Further, I recommend the book to high school and college kids looking trying to figure out how to navigate the world using the life experiences of someone who didn't have all the answers or best influences yet did the best he could.
I rate 'Bernie Kosar: Learning to Scramble' at 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-star to 5-stars.
April 10, 2018
Having been a big fan, like most Clevelanders during the late 80's, of the Browns, I was interested to read Kosar's story since he has fallen off of the (at least my) radar these past few years. Not knowing anything about the book, I expected reminiscences of his life in football. Disappointingly, there is not much about those times in this book (he acknowledges as much at the end). It seems mainly a book to get things off his chest. While he does provide some good insights into his life and waxes philosophical on all sorts of things (e.g., leadership, humility), the downfall is that he really takes it to certain folks with whom he has had problems: his father, brother, and ex-wife really get it between the eyes (even his kids are not spared, although in an off-handed way). There is no need to air this dirty laundry, especially since we only get one side. Even if everything he says is completely accurate it is still uncouth to call out these folks and provide great detail into their problems and shortcomings. Apparently he is looking to justify himself to the reader.
This is truly a work that is in his voice. The writing is uneven (no Pulitzer here) but it does appear to come from his genuine feelings and emotions. Some chapters are quite interesting, especially when he speaks of his approach to football and his preparation and abilities in his playing career; others are not worth the time (fortunately all chapters are quite short).
Recommended, at best, only for those who lived through the Kosar era and have a special interest in Kosar and his teams. Just don't expect the walk down memory lane for which you had hoped.
This is truly a work that is in his voice. The writing is uneven (no Pulitzer here) but it does appear to come from his genuine feelings and emotions. Some chapters are quite interesting, especially when he speaks of his approach to football and his preparation and abilities in his playing career; others are not worth the time (fortunately all chapters are quite short).
Recommended, at best, only for those who lived through the Kosar era and have a special interest in Kosar and his teams. Just don't expect the walk down memory lane for which you had hoped.
November 12, 2017
Bernie Kosar was the person I loved to hate growing up. I was a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and he was in charge of rival Cleveland Browns (this was in the 1980s-1990s when there was still a rivalry between the teams). However, the past several years, due to football being filled with ego money hungry people, I've come to respect his views on the game and listen to him every time he is on WTAM Cleveland Radio's Mike Trivisonno Show.
This book is not a biography style book, it is Kosar's commentary on topics, like the concussion issues in football, The Cleveland Browns organization as a whole, his business ventures, and marriage with the them of learning to "scramble" through hard times in life and getting back up and continuing on.
The book is a short read- only 170 some pages, and has some nice photographs and glossy style pages, which is nice. However, most of the ideals that are discussed are things hes said before if you listen to him on radio stations. The book is marketed as a biography about his life, which is misleading. I think this book is good for the die hard fans of Kosar's and want the book for collections, but if you are looking to find out how a guy from Boardman, Ohio made it to the NFL and beyond, you may be a little disappointed.
It's not a bad book, but very short, and a let down at times.
This book is not a biography style book, it is Kosar's commentary on topics, like the concussion issues in football, The Cleveland Browns organization as a whole, his business ventures, and marriage with the them of learning to "scramble" through hard times in life and getting back up and continuing on.
The book is a short read- only 170 some pages, and has some nice photographs and glossy style pages, which is nice. However, most of the ideals that are discussed are things hes said before if you listen to him on radio stations. The book is marketed as a biography about his life, which is misleading. I think this book is good for the die hard fans of Kosar's and want the book for collections, but if you are looking to find out how a guy from Boardman, Ohio made it to the NFL and beyond, you may be a little disappointed.
It's not a bad book, but very short, and a let down at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2019
I enjoyed this book a great deal. I’m a Clevelander who happens to be a die-hard Browns fan and was captivated by Bernie from his first game here. At that time Cleveland had a very good football team, and there were great expectations of every single player. Bernie did not disappoint. He was a local guy whose lifelong dream was to play for the Browns. I learned that he had actually scheduled his final college classes and graduation (which he completed in 2.5 years) to miss being available in April, so that the Browns could take him in the supplemental draft.
I was intrigued by the book’s title because I knew that Bernie couldn’t scramble; he was slow and awkward. He used the word to describe his approach to the vagaries of life. How he developed his personal scrambling skills made fascinating reading.
I admit to skimming some of the details of individual football plays, because I have never played the sport and don’t comprehend the minutiae well enough to visualize what he was describing. But I reveled in his stories of the people he knew because I admired so many of them.
Bernie describes his childhood and his difficulties with his family and his finances. I had to un-learn a few things I thought I knew. His honesty is inspiring. I hope to meet him someday, just to shake his hand.
I was intrigued by the book’s title because I knew that Bernie couldn’t scramble; he was slow and awkward. He used the word to describe his approach to the vagaries of life. How he developed his personal scrambling skills made fascinating reading.
I admit to skimming some of the details of individual football plays, because I have never played the sport and don’t comprehend the minutiae well enough to visualize what he was describing. But I reveled in his stories of the people he knew because I admired so many of them.
Bernie describes his childhood and his difficulties with his family and his finances. I had to un-learn a few things I thought I knew. His honesty is inspiring. I hope to meet him someday, just to shake his hand.
January 29, 2018
I too enjoyed Bernie’s book and am left with a need to answer a few questions. Is Bernie Kosar crazy with a penchant for brand self flagellation or is he a liar with a number of grudges to settle? Or could he simply be a naive optimist stumbling through life? His short and to the point writing leaves me to believe that he is intelligent and honest while describing actions that he has taken in life that have always been consistent with his philosophy. He means no harm and was born to serve. His family, The Cleveland Browns (team and fans), and NFL are all most fortunate that Bernie Kosar came to play and most importantly to win.
January 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. First, it was short (171 pages), and while it was about football, it was really about Bernie and his life, because of football. There was a little technical talks that was a bit hard to follow, and for some people, I'm sure it was germane to the story, but I would have still enjoyed the book without it! Bernie really opened himself up in a very brave way and I completely appreciate that. If you are a Bernie fan, or a football fan, I highly recommend reading this book.
September 23, 2020
Bought this book mainly because I was interested in learning more about Bernie's well documented issues with money and going bankrupt in 2009. Thought he might go into more detail on that than he did, but the story he does tell about it is still interesting. I wasn't expecting as much discussion on the inner look at the lives of NFL players as I got, but I really enjoyed that as well. Written in a very "conversational" manner, like he dictated into a recorder and had the other author take it from there into written form. Easy read. I enjoyed it.
October 8, 2017
I have always loved Bernie as does Cleveland. He is an Everyman so the book was more like talking about life with an old friend not terribly well written but written well enough to connect with someone that brought Cleveland a lot of joy.
November 24, 2017
Great book. Bernie Kosar delivers a must read for all sports fans and all Clevelanders. He uses examples from his life on and off the field to give valuable life lessons. I highly recommend this book for diehard Cleveland Browns fans of all ages.
January 15, 2018
Excuses excuses excuses. Who gives their brother $20 to squander then files Bankruptcy? He was lucky he had such good players to make him look good. And the writing was about as bad. He even admitted that this was a way to make some $. How sad
October 7, 2018
Enjoyable book; learned a lot about Bernie, especially that he was not in the bag while doing color of preseason telecasts. Came to feel sorry for him because due to how he was used, but also how can you be so dumb.
December 31, 2017
A good read for Cleveland Browns fans. The last good quarterback the team has had and his tough story of life behind the curtain.
May 25, 2018
Interesting read about Bernie's life
January 15, 2018
I would never recommend this book to anyone, but as a Browns fan in had some interesting aspects. It did give me some behind the scenes look at how an NFL can go from millions to bankruptcy. The overall writing and feel of this book isn't great. I was interested at times because of Bernie but their are chapters in here that just make you shake your head. The only thing this book made me wish for were the days when Bernie was color commentator for Browns games because he does the game really well.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews