The sports drama series “Ballers” on HBO centres on the lives of both former and current football players, particularly Spencer Strasmore, a former player who now serves as a financial manager to guide current players through the financial and other facets of the game. In addition to Spencer, John David Washington’s portrayal of Ricky Jerret serves as another one of the series’ key figures and motivating forces.
At the beginning of the programme, Ricky, the son of former NFL player Dennis Jerret, plays with the Green Bay Packers before being discharged due to a number of contentious off-field incidents. The Miami Dolphins then give him a chance to demonstrate to himself and others that, despite his temper tantrums off the pitch, he is capable of maintaining professional focus and contributing to any team he plays for. The audience might start to question if Ricky is modelled on a genuine NFL player as the show goes along. So let us to give you the response!
Is Ricky Jerret Based on a Real NFL Player?
Ricky Jerret is not modelled after a genuine NFL player, no. However, it is only logical for one to ask the issue given that the character possesses a number of characteristics shared by a variety of NFL players. When comparing him to real-life football player Odell Beckham Jr. on social media, many fans notice the striking resemblance in their physical attributes. But once we put Ricky’s outward appearance aside and concentrate on his performance in “Ballers,” you could find some similarities to other NFL players.
In the sports drama series, Ricky has a reputation for engaging in a lot of extravagant partying and frequently letting his wild and irresponsible side take control. He then makes news the following day for the wrong reasons, gets embroiled in incidents that cast doubt on his professionalism among those around him, and as a result, he is abruptly released from the Green Bay Packers. Consequently, his partying and antics are what are highlighted on the front page, despite the fact that he has a decent heart and is not just extremely passionate about the sport but also tremendously talented on the pitch.
In light of all these qualities, Terrell Owens, a wide receiver, might be likened to Ricky as a wide receiver whose outstanding potential was disregarded by people because of all the controversies and antics he engaged in off the field. He supposedly ranks third in receiving touchdowns and second in receiving yards all-time, but his lack of professionalism, attitude, and controversy prevented him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Before he ventured into acting, John David Washington, who plays Ricky Jerrett, was a professional football player. He played for his college and went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draught before being signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams. Prior to joining the California Redwoods in the United Football League and playing there until the league’s untimely closure in 2012, he also played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe during the 2007 offseason.
Although both John David Washington and Ricky Jerrett have played football professionally, there are no obvious connections between their sporting careers. When it comes to their careers after leaving the football field, John entered the acting world while Ricky launched his own radio programme. However, upon closer inspection, we discovered a similarity between the two, as John David Washington did the same by pursuing an acting career and following in the footsteps of his father, the renowned actor Denzel Washington, just as Ricky did by following in the footsteps of his father, who was a former NFL player himself.
