National Football League

Unitas son, grandson rip movie

Published Apr. 8, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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It was announced on Saturday that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would portray legendary Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas in the final scenes of the upcoming movie, “Unitas We Stand.”

The choice to cast the current Ravens signal-caller was made by Joe Unitas, the elder Unitas’ son from his second marriage. But family members from Unitas’ first marriage are anything but happy with the news that Flacco will play the role of the NFL great. Unitas’ grandson, J.C. took to Facebook to voice his displeasure with the decision he called “embarrassing.”

“If you want a real movie, hire a real actor,” J.C. wrote.

J.C.’s father, John Jr. felt similarly, and his comments are sure to add to the hostility among the Unitas family.

“If you want a quarterback, go with Peyton Manning,” John told USA Today. “My father was just like that. This is a joke.”

There has been an on-going dispute among the Unitas family which includes Joe’s mother, Susan Unitas suing John Jr. over the control of Unitas Management, which owns the family name rights. Joe, a producer for the upcoming film, has looked for contributions to help produce the movie, which has only further angered John Jr. and J.C.

“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. wrote on his Facebook page according to USA Today. “Moreover, a movie of my grandfather conceptualized by a son who never saw my grandfather play a down of football.”

John Jr. told Robert Klemko that he is considering using legal action against Joe if money is made off of Unitas’ name.

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