Unitas family upset: Family members of Johnny Unitas were reportedly upset with a move to use Baltimore Ravens star Joe Flacco to portray the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback in an upcoming biopic.
Flacco said he would play Unitas, who played for the Baltimore Colts, during the final scenes of “Unitas We Stand,”which will play in theaters in late 2014.
However, his grandson, J.C. Unitas, wasn’t pleased with the decision.
“If you want a real movie, hire a real actor,” he wrote Facebook, according to USA Today. “My grandfather and his legacy deserves only the best, and this is not it. Has Baltimore forgotten that Trent Dilfer also won a Super Bowl while playing for Baltimore?” he added.
John Unitas Jr., the son of the Colts quarterback from his first marriage, described Flacco as a “goofball.”
“If you want a quarterback, go with Peyton Manning,” he said. “My father was just like that. This is a joke.” He added, “They’re trying to do anything on the coattails of my father’s name.”
The film is being produced by Joe Unitas, the late quarterback’s son from another marriage.
Joe Unitas recently published a letter to the Ravens, Flacco, and fans to apologize for his family’s recent comments, according to the Baltimore Sun.
“First I’d like to apologize to Joe, his family, agent, and the Ravens organization for any embarrassment these comments may have caused. Joe is a respectable man, a great player, and very similar to my Dad in many ways. The Ravens organization is top notch and I respect them very much. Both deserve better,” he wrote.
