<P> Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) is a former NFL player who, one night, gets drunk and goes joyriding in the Bentley of his girlfriend (Courteney Cox in an uncredited role), crashing it . It is revealed that he was arrested for shaving points in a big game, although it was never proven . </P> <P> In prison, Warden Rudolph Hazen (James Cromwell), wishing to boost his prison's reputation for future elections as State Governor, uses threats and confinement in a hot box to coerce Crewe into helping the prison guards' football team, led by the hostile Captain Knauer (William Fichtner). Crewe informs Hazen that what Hazen's team needs is a tune - up game to boost the guards' confidence, and is therefore coerced to form an inmate team to play against the guards . He does so with the help of a newfound friend, Caretaker (Chris Rock). They start off with a poorly organized team, before being noticed by another prisoner, former college football star Nate Scarborough (Burt Reynolds), who decides to help coach the team by gathering several intimidating inmates as a boost to the team's strength . </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 wouldn'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> Hazen and the guards continue attempts to hinder Crewe's team by flooding their field, but the team decides to practice in the mud anyway . </P>

Who was the running back in the longest yard