Roger Goodell has a lot on his plate these days, but apparently policing HBO’s “Ballers” isn’t on the NFL commissioner’s agenda.
Actor and Boston native Mark Wahlberg, who is an executive producer for the show, caused a stir Friday by claiming on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” radio show that Goodell had called him to say NFL players aren’t allowed to appear in “Ballers.”
That’d be pretty big news if the commissioner was withholding his players from appearing on the show because it casts the league in a negative light, which Wahlberg insinuated Friday. But on Sunday, Natalie Ravitz, the NFL’s senior vice president of communications, steadfastly denied Wahlberg’s story.
Love Marky Mark (good vibrations is a classic) but this call from @nflcommish never happened @Deadspin https://t.co/ukALTsGAOM
— Natalie Ravitz (@Nravitz) July 17, 2016
Ravitz reiterated the league’s stance in response to several articles about Wahlberg’s comments.
It makes for a nice story but this call from @nflcommish never happened @BleacherReport https://t.co/EtBCv0qhO5
— Natalie Ravitz (@Nravitz) July 17, 2016
It makes for a nice story but this call from @nflcommish never happened @THR https://t.co/ghNwYR5XZp
— Natalie Ravitz (@Nravitz) July 17, 2016
Either way, it appears “Ballers” has had no issues getting cameos from current and former NFL players. The HBO show, which currently is in its second season and follows an ex-NFL player’s career as a financial advisor, already has had appearances from players such as Julian Edelman, Victor Cruz and Jason Pierre-Paul.
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
