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43-597: In the late-1970s, Phil Elliott plays wide receiver for the North Dallas Bulls professional football team, based in Dallas , Texas , which closely resembles the Dallas Cowboys . Although considered to possess "the best hands in the game", the aging Elliott has been benched and relies heavily on painkillers . Elliott and popular quarterback Seth Maxwell are outstanding players, but they characterize

86-482: A 'business', you call it a 'game'." The coaches manipulate Elliott to convince a younger, injured rookie on the team to start using painkillers. Elliott's nonconformist attitude incurs the coach's wrath more than once, and at one point, the coach informs Elliott that his continuing attitude could affect his future career with the Bulls. In the final game of the season, Elliott catches a touchdown pass with no time left on

129-573: A black friend (David Clarke, who is not in the movie) have been regular lovers, unknown to Phil, and that they have been violently murdered. The murderer is Charlotte's ex-boyfriend and football groupie Bob Boudreau (who is also not in the movie); Boudreau has been stalking her throughout the novel. In the novel, Charlotte was a widow whose husband was an Army officer who had been killed in Vietnam; Charlotte had told Phil that her husband had decided to resign his commission, but had been killed in action while

172-408: A blocker to protect the left side of right-handed quarterbacks. The end stayed at the end of the offensive line in what today is a tight end position, while the running back - who would line up a yard or so off the offensive line and some distance from the end in a "flank" position - became known as a "flanker". Lining up behind the line of scrimmage gave the flanker two principal advantages. First,

215-492: A flanker has more "space" between themselves and their opposing defensive cornerback , who can not as easily "jam" them at the line of scrimmage; second, flankers are eligible for motion plays, which allow them to move laterally before and during the snap. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch is one of the earliest players to successfully exploit the potential of the flanker position as a member of the Los Angeles Rams during

258-740: A handoff or backward lateral. In Super Bowl XL , Antwaan Randle El , a four-year quarterback at Indiana University , threw a touchdown pass at the wide receiver position playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Seattle Seahawks , the first wide receiver in Super Bowl history to do so, along with Jauan Jennings in Super Bowl LVIII . Wide receivers often also serve on special teams as kick or punt returners , as gunners on coverage teams, or as part of

301-474: Is merely a pretext to allow the team to save money on his contract, quits the team, telling the Hunter brothers that he does not need their money that bad. As he is leaving the team's headquarters in downtown Dallas, Elliott runs into Maxwell, who seems to have been waiting for him. Elliott informs him that he quit, prompting Maxwell to ask if his name came up in the meeting. Elliott deduces that Maxwell knew about

344-430: Is reasonably accurate, the pro game is a gruesome human abattoir, worse even than previously imagined. Much of the strength of this impression can be attributed to Nick Nolte...Unfortunately, Nolte's character, Phil Elliott, is often fuzzily drawn, which makes the actor's accomplishment all the more impressive." In his review for The Washington Post , Gary Arnold wrote "Charlotte, who seemed a creature of rhetorical fancy in

387-431: Is widely considered a classic sports film , giving insights into the lives of professional athletes. Based on the semiautobiographical novel by Peter Gent, a Cowboys wide receiver in the late 1960s, the film's characters closely resemble team members of that era, with Seth Maxwell often compared to quarterback Don Meredith , B.A. Strother to Tom Landry , and Elliott to Gent. Of the story, Meredith said, "If I'd known Gent

430-418: The end . Originally, the ends played on the offensive line , immediately next to the tackles, in a position now referred to as the tight end . By the rules governing the forward pass, ends (positioned at the end of the line of scrimmage) and backs (positioned behind the line of scrimmage) are eligible receivers . Most early football teams used the ends sparingly as receivers, as their starting position next to

473-407: The end zone to score a touchdown . Especially fast receivers are typically perceived as "deep threats", while those with good hands and perhaps shifty moves may be regarded as "possession receivers" prized for running crossing routes across the middle of the field, and converting third-down situations. Taller receivers with a height advantage over typically shorter defenders tend to play further to

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516-508: The "slot" (open space) between the furthest receiver and the offensive line, typically lining up off the line of scrimmage like a flanker. The first use of a slot receiver is often credited to Al Davis , a Gillman assistant who took the concept with him as a coach of the 1960s Oakland Raiders . Other members of the Gillman coaching tree , including Don Coryell and John Madden , brought these progressive offensive ideas along with them into

559-480: The 1950s. While some teams did experiment with more than two wide receivers as a gimmick or trick play , most teams used the pro set (of a flanker, split end, half back, full back, tight end, and quarterback) as the standard group of ball-handling personnel. An early innovator, coach Sid Gillman used 3+ wide receiver sets as early as the 1960s. In sets that have three, four, or five wide receivers, extra receivers are typically called slot receivers, as they play in

602-525: The 1960s, he, Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris , rejected moralizing opposition of the older Bosley Crowther of The New York Times who had railed against violent movies such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967). In addition to film, Schickel also critiqued and documented cartoons, particularly Peanuts . Schickel was born in Milwaukee , Wisconsin, the son of Helen (née Hendricks) and Edward John Schickel. He received his B.A. in political science from

645-701: The 1970s and early 1980s, but it was not until the 1990s that teams began to reliably use three or more wide receivers, notably the " run and shoot " offense popularized by the Houston Cougars of the NCAA and the Houston Oilers of the NFL, and the "K Gun" offense used by the Buffalo Bills . Charlie Joiner , a member of the " Air Coryell " San Diego Chargers teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s,

688-400: The NFL, wide receivers use the numbers 0–49 and 80–89. A "route tree" system typically used in high school and college employs numbers zero through nine, with zero being a "go route" and a nine being a "hitch route" or vice versa. In high school they are normally a part of the play call, but are usually disguised in higher levels of plays. The wide receiver grew out of a position known as

731-463: The Year . In every other year it was awarded to either a quarterback or running back. No wide receiver has ever won MVP . Jerry Rice is the leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns on the all-time list for receivers, along with being a 3-time SB champion and 10-time All-Pro selection. The wide receiver's principle role is to catch forward passes from the quarterback . On passing plays,

774-405: The brother of owner Conrad Hunter. It is loosely implied that Emmett might be gay , and it is why she went to Elliott for her sexual needs. Although the detective witnessed quarterback Seth Maxwell engaging in similar behavior, he pretends not to have recognized him. They tell Elliott that he is to be suspended without pay pending a league hearing, and Elliott, convinced that the entire investigation

817-440: The clock to get North Dallas to within one point of division rival Chicago, but the Bulls lose the game due to a mishandled snap on the extra point attempt. In a meeting with the team owners and Coach Strother, Elliott learns that a Dallas detective has been hired by the Bulls to follow him. They reveal proof of his marijuana use and a sexual relationship with a woman named Joanne, who intends to marry team executive Emmett Hunter,

860-401: The defense, as in an end-around or reverse . All-time NFL receiving yardage leader Jerry Rice also rushed the ball 87 times for 645 yards and 10 touchdowns in his 20 NFL seasons. In even rarer cases, receivers may pass the ball as part of an outright trick play. Like a running back, a receiver may legally pass the ball so long as they receive it behind the line of scrimmage, in the form of

903-435: The drug-, sex-, and alcohol-fueled party atmosphere of that era. Elliott wants only to play the game, retire, and live on a horse farm with his girlfriend Charlotte, an aspiring writer who appears to be financially independent due to a trust fund from her wealthy family and who has no interest whatsoever in football. The Bulls play for iconic Coach Strother, who turns a blind eye to anything that his players may be doing off

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946-423: The field or anything that his assistant coaches and trainers condone to keep those players in the game. The coach is focused on player "tendencies", a quantitative measurement of their performance, and seems less concerned about the human aspect of the game and the players. One player, Shaddock, finally erupts to assistant Coach Johnson: "Every time I call it a 'game', you call it a 'business'. And every time I call it

989-458: The film opened, reported Jane Leavy and Tony Kornheiser in a September 6, 1979, Washington Post article. And the Raiders severed ties with Fred Biletnikoff , who coached Nolte. "Freddy was not even asked back to camp," writes Gent. Tommy Reamon , who played Delma, was cut by the 49ers after the film came out, and said he had been "blackballed". The novel highlights the relationship between

1032-639: The hands team during onside kicks . Devin Hester , from the Chicago Bears , touted as one of the greatest kick and punt returners of all time, was listed as a wide receiver (after his first season, during which he was listed as a cornerback). Five-time All-Pro and ten-time Pro Bowl member Matthew Slater was a gunner for the New England Patriots who was likewise listed as a wide receiver, however he had only one reception in his career. In

1075-522: The harder realities of the game. North Dallas Forty isn't subtle or finely tuned, but like a crunching downfield tackle, it leaves its mark." However, in his review for The Globe and Mail , Rick Groen wrote " North Dallas Forty descends into farce and into the lone man versus the corrupt system mentality deprives it of real resonance. It's still not the honest portrait of professional athletics that sport buffs have been waiting for." Sports Illustrated magazine's Frank Deford wrote "If North Dallas Forty

1118-433: The intent of drawing defenders away from the intended action. Well-rounded receivers are noted for skill in both roles; Hines Ward in particular received praise for his blocking abilities while also becoming the Pittsburgh Steelers ' all-time leading receiver and one of 13 in NFL history through 2009 with at least 1,000 receptions. Occasionally wide receivers are used to run the ball, usually in plays seeking to surprise

1161-424: The investigation the entire time. As Elliott walks away, Maxwell briefly reminisces about their time together on and off the football field. Maxwell prompts Elliott to turn around and throws a football to him, but Elliott lets it hit him in the chest and fall incomplete as he shrugs and throws his arms out to his sides, signifying that he truly is done with the game. Part drama, comedy, and satire, North Dallas Forty

1204-678: The line of scrimmage, create separation from defenders, and make contested catches in traffic. Additionally, route-running is a critical skill for wide receivers, as they must effectively navigate the field and find open space to receive passes. Wide receivers are typically categorized into different roles based on their skill sets and playing styles. These roles include: Wide receivers are involved in various offensive strategies designed to exploit mismatches and create scoring opportunities. Some common strategies include: Some notable wide receivers include: Richard Schickel Richard Warren Schickel (February 10, 1933 – February 18, 2017)

1247-638: The novel, still remains a trifle remote and unassimilated. Dayle Haddon may also be a little too prim and standoffish to achieve a satisfying romantic chemistry with Nolte: Somehow, the temperaments don't mesh." As of November 2023, North Dallas Forty holds a rating of 85% based on 26 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes . The site's critical consensus states: "Muddled overall, but perceptive and brutally realistic, North Dallas Forty also benefits from strong performances by Nick Nolte and Charles Durning. Football fans will likely find it fascinating." The film grossed $ 2,787,489 in its opening weekend. The following weekend saw

1290-448: The offensive side of the ball, typically on the line of scrimmage, and are positioned on the periphery of the formation. They are often split out wide from the offensive line, hence the name "wide" receiver. The primary objective of a wide receiver is to catch passes from the quarterback and gain yardage. Wide receivers must possess a combination of speed, agility, and hands to excel in their role. They must be able to quickly accelerate off

1333-407: The offensive tackles at the end of the offensive formation often left them in heavy traffic with many defenders around. By the 1930s, some teams were experimenting with spreading the field by moving one end far out near the sideline, drawing the defense away from running plays and leaving them more open on passing ones. These "split ends" became the prototype for what has evolved into being called today

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1376-409: The outside and run deep more often, while shorter ones tend to play inside and run more routes underneath the top of the defense. A wide receiver may block theirs or another's defender, depending on the type of play being run. On standard running plays they will block their assigned defender for the running back . Particularly in the case of draws and other trick plays, they may run a pass route with

1419-400: The receiver attempts to avoid, outmaneuver, or simply outrun the cornerbacks or safeties typically defending them. If the receiver becomes open on their pass route , the quarterback may throw a pass to them. The receiver needs to successfully catch the ball without it touching the ground (known as a completion ) and then run with the ball as far downfield as possible, hoping to reach

1462-452: The request was being processed. Wide receiver A wide receiver ( WR ), also referred to as a wideout , and historically known as a split end ( SE ) or flanker ( FL ), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football . A key skill position of the offense , WR gets its name from the player being split out "wide" (near the sidelines), farthest away from the rest of the offensive formation . A forward pass -catching specialist,

1505-540: The same scenes recreated in the movie. Throughout the novel there is more graphic sex and violence, as well as drug and alcohol abuse without the comic overtones of the film; for instance, the harassment of an unwilling girl at a party that is played for laughs in the movie is a brutal near-rape at an orgy in the novel. At the end of the novel, there is a shocking twist ending in which Phil returns to Charlotte to tell her he has left football and to presumably continue his relationship with her on her ranch, but finds that she and

1548-520: The team's quarterback, a man whose calculating nature and complacency make him all the more likable, somehow." Time magazine's Richard Schickel wrote " North Dallas Forty retains enough of the original novel's authenticity to deliver strong, if brutish, entertainment". Newsweek magazine's David Ansen wrote "The writers – Kotcheff, Gent and producer Frank Yablans – are nonetheless to be congratulated for allowing their story to live through its characters, abjuring Rocky -like fantasy configurations for

1591-490: The violent world of professional football with the violence inherent in the social structures and cultural mores of late 1960s American life, using a simulacrum of America's Team and the most popular sport in the United States as the metaphorical central focus. Recurring scenes of television and radio news reporting violent crimes, war and environmental destruction are scattered throughout various scenes, but left out in

1634-402: The weekend gross increase to $ 2,906,268. After 32 days from 654 theatres, it had grossed $ 19,010,710 and went on to gross $ 26,079,312 in the United States and Canada. The NFL didn't take kindly to those who participated in the making of North Dallas Forty . Hall of Famer Tom Fears , who advised on the movie's football action, had scouting contracts with three NFL teams – all were canceled after

1677-459: The wide receiver is one of the fastest players on the field alongside cornerbacks and running backs . One on either extreme of the offensive line is typical, but several may be employed on the same play. Through 2022 only four wide receivers, Jerry Rice (in 1987 and 1993), Michael Thomas (in 2019), Cooper Kupp (in 2021), and Justin Jefferson (in 2022), have won Offensive Player of

1720-467: The wide receiver. Don Hutson , who played college football at Alabama and professionally with the Green Bay Packers , was the first player to exploit the potential of the split end position. As the passing game evolved, a second de facto wide receiver was added by employing a running back in a pass-catching role rather than splitting out the "blind-side" end, who was typically retained as

1763-691: Was an American film historian , journalist, author, documentarian, and film and literary critic . He was a film critic for Time from 1965–2010, and also wrote for Life and the Los Angeles Times Book Review . His last writings about film were for Truthdig . He was interviewed in For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism (2009). In this documentary, he discusses early film critics Frank E. Woods , Robert E. Sherwood , and Otis Ferguson , and tells of how, in

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1806-420: Was as good as he says he was, I would have thrown to him more." The film opened to good reviews, some critics calling it the best film Ted Kotcheff made behind Fun with Dick and Jane and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz . In her review for The New York Times , Janet Maslin wrote "The central friendship in the movie, beautifully delineated, is the one between Mr. Nolte and Mac Davis, who expertly plays

1849-535: Was the first "slot receiver" to be his team's primary receiver. Wide receivers generally hit their peak between the ages of 23 and 30, with about 80 percent of peak seasons falling within that range according to one study. The designation for a receiver separated from the main offensive formation varies depending on how far they are removed from it and whether they begin on or off the line of scrimmage. The three principal designations are "wide receiver"/"split end", "flanker", and "slot back": Wide receivers line up on

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