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NFL flatly denies Roger Goodell pressured Mark Wahlberg over HBO's 'Ballers'

Maybe his buddy Bill Simmons prank-called Mark Wahlberg as a goof. Because the NFL flatly denies that Commissioner Roger Goodell called the actor/producer to pressure him about his HBO show, "Ballers."

"The Commissioner did not call him," said league spokesman Brian McCarthy via email.

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OK, did anybody else call Wahlberg to tell them him couldn't use real-life NFL players in the show?

"We did not speak to him," answered McCarthy.

The mystery over the supposed call started Friday when Wahlberg told ESPN2's "MIke & Mike" show that he received calls from "guys like Roger Goodell" not to use real-life NFL players in cameos during the show.