The casting of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to play legendary QB Jonny Unitas in an upcoming film has caused a family feud, according to USA Today.
Flacco has agreed to play the hall-of-fame quarterback in the last few scenes of an upcoming movie about Unitas’ life, “Unitas We Stand”. The movie is set to open in 2014.
The choice was made by Joe Unitas, Johnny Unitas’ son from his second marriage. Joe is producing the movie based on a book written by Tom Callahan.
Unitas Jr, Joe’s half brother, thinks there is another quarterback more worthy to play the role of his father.
"If you want a quarterback, go with Peyton Manning," said John. "My father was just like that. This is a joke."
He also called Flacco a goofball.
Unitas’s son J.C. said picking Flacco was “an embarrassing choice”.
Unitas does in fact have a career much more similar to Manning than Flacco. They both were leaders of the Colts organization. (They were in Baltimore when Unitas played and in Indianapolis when Manning played.) Also, at this point in his career, Manning is a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame—a feat Unitas has already accomplished.
However Flacco’s career is nothing to be embarrassed about. At age 28, he already has as many Super Bowl rings as Manning at one a piece. He has a career passer rating of 87.7 according to NFL.com, as well as several post season appearances.
However, J.C. Unitas is still not impressed.
"My grandfather and his legacy deserve only the best, and this is not it. Has Baltimore forgotten that Trent Dilfer also won a Super Bowl while playing for Baltimore," he said.
Joe said the budget for the film could be as much as $12.8 million and he is asking for “sponsorships” from fans, according to an interview with the Baltimore Sun.
"It disgusts me that one of the son's of my grandfather would put his hands out and ask for donations to make a movie based off of a book that was mostly built off of non-factual events in my grandfather's life," J.C. Unitas said. "Moreover, a movie of my grandfather conceptualized by a son who never saw my grandfather play a down of football.
Joe Unitas declined comment.
Johnny Unitas retired from the National Football League in 1973 and died In 2002.
