<P> Caretaker tells Crewe that they need more `` brothers '' on the team . When Crewe goes to the basketball court to ask the black inmates to join the team , their leader , Deacon Moss ( Michael Irvin ) rebuffs him . Crewe challenges Deacon to a one - on - one basketball game , saying that if he wins , the brothers will join the team , and if Deacon wins , Crewe will leave them alone . Deacon accepts , and despite Deacon 's undisguised personal fouls in which he elbows , punches or grabs Crewe , Crewe continues without complaint , because the match is a question of pride and respect . On the game - winning shot , Crewe cleanly steals the ball from Deacon and scores , but Deacon calls a foul . Realizing he would n't be allowed to win , Crewe lets Deacon score the final shot . Although Deacon beats Crewe , one of the brothers , a fast runner named Earl Megget ( Nelly ) , impressed with Crewe 's decision to take the beating , joins the football team as its running back . When the guards learn of this , they confront Earl in an attempt to provoke an assault by him by saying the racial epithet `` nigger '' , but Earl does not allow himself to be provoked despite intimidation and minor abuse . Having witnessed this , the other `` brothers '' , including Deacon , decide to join the team too . </P>
<P> Caretaker tells Crewe that they need more `` brothers '' on the team . When Crewe goes to the basketball court to ask the black inmates to join the team , their leader , Deacon Moss ( Michael Irvin ) rebuffs him . Crewe challenges Deacon to a one - on - one basketball game , saying that if he wins , the brothers will join the team , and if Deacon wins , Crewe will leave them alone . Deacon accepts , and despite Deacon 's undisguised personal fouls in which he elbows , punches or grabs Crewe , Crewe continues without complaint , because the match is a question of pride and respect . On the game - winning shot , Crewe cleanly steals the ball from Deacon and scores , but Deacon calls a foul . Realizing he would n't be allowed to win , Crewe lets Deacon score the final shot . Although Deacon beats Crewe , one of the brothers , a fast runner named Earl Megget ( Nelly ) , impressed with Crewe 's decision to take the beating , joins the football team as its running back . When the guards learn of this , they confront Earl in an attempt to provoke an assault by him by saying the racial epithet `` nigger '' , but Earl does not allow himself to be provoked despite intimidation and minor abuse . Having witnessed this , the other `` brothers '' , including Deacon , decide to join the team too . </P>
who is the running back in longest yard
who is the running back in longest yard
Earl Megget ( Nelly )
Earl Megget ( Nelly )