Rodman turned down starring role in 'Jerry Maguire,' says Roy Firestone

Dennis Rodman was apparently considered for a starring role alongside Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire."

Sports commentator and former ESPN "Up Close" host Roy Firestone, who appeared the 1996 movie, shared that interesting tidbit Thursday on the "Dan Patrick Show." According to Firestone, director Cameron Crowe initially wanted Rodman to play the role of fictional NFL player Rod Tidwell, but he turned it down.

"When Rodman cried (on "Up Close"), that's when Cameron Crowe called us and they wanted to do the scene from 'Jerry Maguire,'" Firestone said. "Originally, Rodman was gonna be Rod Tidwell - people don't know that ... he turned down the role."

The role instead went to Cuba Gooding Jr., who won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1997. That same year, Rodman starred as Yaz in the action movie "Double Team."