Playmakers is an American drama television series created by John Eisendrath that aired on ESPN from August 26 to November 11, 2003. It depicts the lives of the Cougars, a fictional professional football team in an unidentified city. The show stars Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith, Russell Hornsby, and Tony Denison. The show, which ran eleven episodes, was the first original drama series created by ESPN. Although the ratings were very high for ESPN—Playmakers was the highest-rated show on the network other than its Sunday night NFL and Saturday college football games—ESPN eventually canceled the series under pressure from the National Football League, who disliked the portrayal of the negative aspects of its players' lives off the field. Style The show follows the lives of various members of an ensemble cast who portray the players and personnel on a fictional American football team, the Cougars, in a fictional league (referred to in the series as "The League") during the regular season. Many of these segments are prefaced by an internal monologue in the format of a character narrating in his head. Cast and characters Main Omar Gooding as Demetrius Harris, #39 - A rookie running back from Colorado. Marcello Thedford as Kelvin "The Buffalo" James, #60 - A fourth year offensive tackle from Oklahoma State. Christopher Wiehl as Derek McConnell, #11 - A fourth year quarterback from Louisville. Jason Matthew Smith as Eric Olczyk, #54 - A fifth year middle linebacker from Penn State. Russell Hornsby as Leon Taylor, #33 - A ninth year running back from USC. Anthony John Denison as Coach Mike George - The head coach in his ninth season with the team. Recurring Stephen Bogaert - Phil Chambers, Team Equipment Manager Bruce Gray - Gene Wilbanks, the team's owner Phillip Jarrett - Coach Rudman, Defensive Coordinator and close friend of Coach George Karen LeBlanc - Robin Taylor, Leon's wife Thea Andrews - Samantha Lovett, reporter who presumably shows a love interest for Leon Taylor. Dan Petronijevic - Thad Guerwicz, a wide receiver who is a closeted gay man Kevin Jubinville - Dr. Gatewood, The team Physician Sasha Roiz - Stephen Lyles, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Gabriel Hogan - Guard Dog Fredericks Tacquira LaTouche - Herself Frank Chiesurin - David, Guerwictz's boyfriend Laura Jordan - August, Guerwictz's girlfriend and later fiancé to publicly cover up his homosexuality K. C. Collins -