Mark Wahlberg Says the NFL Pushed Back Against ‘Ballers,’ Telling Him ‘You Can’t Do This’
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the NFL doesn’t count itself among the fans of “Ballers.” Mark Wahlberg, who serves as an executive producer on the sports-themed HBO dramedy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, said during an appearance on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” that he’s received several complaints from the league, as well as assertions that “You can’t do this.”
READ MORE: ‘Ballers’ Season 2 Premiere: Dwayne Johnson’s Return Rocks, But Doesn’t Ball Super Hard
“The first season of the show,” said Wahlberg, “the only calls I was getting were from guys like Roger Goodell saying, ‘You can’t do this,’ and various owners in the league.” Wahlberg countered, arguing that “it’s actually a good thing for the league and the players because hopefully you’ll get the word out there with the crazy stuff and the financial side of it and hopefully get these guys to realize that they’ve got to be more careful with what they do with their money.” Several NFL players made cameos on the show during its first season; this second co-ground will follow suit, including appearances by “countless Patriots” — Wahlberg’s hometown team, of which he’s a diehard fan.
READ MORE: ‘Ballers’ Season 2 Trailer: Dwayne Johnson Goes To War Against Andy Garcia
“Ballers” returned for its second-season premiere last night; nine more episodes will air throughout the summer. Watch Wahlberg’s interview below.
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